Nature in Andorra

Andorra’s nature includes steep Pyrenean slopes, forests, alpine pastures, scree, glacial lakes, streams, river floodplains, and peatlands and wetlands. Around 1,800 peatlands and lakes (molleres und estanys) lie mostly between 1,300 and 2,700 metres above sea level. They store water, slow runoff and sediment, purify water, sequester carbon and connect habitats. Riverbanks form important biological corridors. In the 2025 monitoring, 94.5 percent of the waters assessed achieved good or very good biological quality; 72 percent were rated good in physico-chemical terms. The flora comprises approximately 500 species, including about 50 threatened species and around one third of the national flora. The three defining protected areas include the Sorteny Nature Park (Parc natural de la vall de Sorteny) in Ordino, covering 1,080 hectares; the Comapedrosa Communal Natural Park (Parc Natural Comunal de les Valls del Comapedrosa) in La Massana, covering 1,543 hectares; and the Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror. Sorteny is based on a municipal regulation from 1999. Comapedrosa was regulated in 2006, includes 2,942-metre-high Comapedrosa and has a management plan from 2022. The Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror is a UNESCO cultural landscape of approximately 4,247 hectares, managed by four parish authorities (Comuns), and combines biodiversity with traditional grazing and agricultural use. The area is based on Law 9/2003; its management plan has applied since 28 December 2011. All three areas are also recognised as Ramsar sites for important wetlands: Sorteny since 23 July 2012, Madriu since 28 August 2013 and Comapedrosa since 15 April 2014. Together they cover 6,870 hectares. Another national nature park, Valls de Canillo i Ordino, with 88.35 square kilometres, is planned. The responsible expert body, the national biodiversity advisory committee (CENBA), issued a positive opinion on 30 July 2026, but the statutory designation had not yet been completed at that time. The project must therefore not be treated as an existing protected area. Protection, conservation and monitoring involve the Department of Environment and Sustainability, the Comuns, the game warden service (Cos de Banders), CENBA, Civil Protection, the Fire Brigade and the National Meteorological Service. Protected wildlife includes, for example, the bearded vulture, golden eagle, capercaillie, Pyrenean chamois, Pyrenean lizard, Pyrenean brook salamander, otter and salamander. The 2024 protection regulation prohibits intentional disturbance and trade in native wildlife. Activities involving protected species require ministerial authorisation and must benefit the species concerned. The Department monitors populations and health status, controls transport and imports, exports and re-exports, and records observation data in the IDE Andorra observation system (IDE Andorra). Non-native species can also damage habitats. Decree 258/2022, as amended in 2023, prohibits the import or release into the wild of listed species and provides for control plans. Examples include Phoxinus phoxinus, Vespa velutina, Senecio inaequidens, Buddleja davidii, Helianthus tuberosus and Impatiens balfourii. Particular risks arise from animals released or incorrectly stocked in mountain lakes. Hydraulic works in watercourses, waterbeds or on banks require government authorisation under the Water Act (Llei 26/2021). The assessment includes ecological minimum flows and other linked expert reports. The Les Salines fish farm produces more than 10,000 trout and brook char each year. Fishing is governed by rules set annually. In 2026, the licence costs nothing for residents or Andorrans under 18, 64 euros for people under 65 and 31 euros for people aged 65 or over; a catch-and-release fishing (pesca sense mort) licence costs 32 euros. For non-residents, the annual licence costs 150 euros. Tourist day and three-day licences cost between 10 and 70 euros depending on age and the applicable rule. Applications are made through e-Tràmits, the Govern or the Comuns, and in some cases through fishing shops and tourism offices. Selected catch-and-release areas are open in 2026 from 6 June to 1 November. Artificial single hooks without barbs or with crushed barbs and a landing net are required there. A geographically limited exception allows a maximum of eight salmons de font longer than 20 centimetres at Estany de l’Estanyó. Hunting is governed by Law 27/2021, Decree 206/2025 and the 2026/2027 season regulation. Management plans exist for certain species such as chamois, roe deer and mouflon; huntable species also include wild boar, deer, mouflon, marmot and fox. Special permits are partly allocated by lottery. Hunting grounds include Enclar, Xixerella and Ransol-Sorteny. Damage to fields, livestock, forests or wildlife can be reported to the Cos de Banders. The administration must balance nature conservation, agriculture, grazing, hunting, fishing and tourism. Hiking is a central low-impact form of access. Marked long-distance trails, mountain huts and the five-day Coronallacs crossing, with 92 kilometres, 6,449 metres of elevation gain and approximately 20 lakes, pass through several protected areas and hunting grounds. Andorra has 22 free and four staffed mountain huts (refugis); many are accessible year-round, while maintenance takes place mainly in summer. In the Sorteny Nature Park, parking costs four euros from 1 July to 1 September between 8:30 and 16:00; the car park has 50 spaces, including two accessible spaces. Access via the forest road is restricted in summer between 8:30 and 18:00 and is impossible in winter because of snow. In Comapedrosa, the main car park is paid; an alternative car park with approximately 50 spaces is free and may be used for no more than three days. The visitor centre is reachable daily in July and August from 8:00 to 15:00 by bus route 5. The current opening and operation of the Comapedrosa hut should be checked before the visit. Visitors must stay on marked paths, avoid litter and unauthorised fires, keep dogs on a leash, and respect plants, animals, livestock and quiet areas. A permit is required for more than three tents. In Sorteny, swimming or entering the water, leaving paths in sensitive or protected zones, and drone flights, research, mountaineering and commercial use without authorisation are prohibited. Fines there range from 50 to 1,000 euros depending on the severity. In Comapedrosa, swimming in all lakes is prohibited; bicycles may not be used there, and motor vehicles generally require special authorisation, except for certain agricultural or operational activities. For professional activities in nature, Decree 260/2021 regulates, among other things, guiding on land, water and in the air, work away from marked ski slopes, hut management, helicopter flights, forestry work, audiovisual productions, vehicle and boat rental, and events with fewer than 300 participants. Recognised environmental and nature-conservation training is required; approved training providers and a directly creditable EFPEM training module (EFPEM) make proof easier. People with more than ten years of experience may, depending on the case, enter through an information session and a recognition procedure. Events and projects require an environmental professional and appropriate documentation. Planning must take protected species, wetlands, aquatic habitats and breeding periods into account. Projects affecting protected areas or threatened species require an environmental assessment. Waste must be removed within no more than 48 hours; signs and equipment may remain for no more than eight days. Andorra provides nature education through the Andorran Environmental Education Strategy for Sustainability, Learn for the Future (Estratègia Andorrana d’Educació Ambiental per a la Sostenibilitat Aprèn pel futur), with a 2030 horizon. Andorra Sostenible, visitor centres, educational trails, the Sorteny botanical garden, schools and citizen observations complement the information. During mountain trips, the avalanche situation must also be checked. Meteo.ad publishes danger levels from 1 to 5 for the northern, central and southern sectors; routes and experience must be adjusted in unfavourable weather or avalanche conditions, and the emergency number 112 applies in acute danger. The BPIF forest-fire danger scale (BPIF) ranges from 0 to 3 and is published daily at 16:00 from level 1 onwards. From level 2, fires, campfires and rockets may be suspended or prohibited; from level 3, access restrictions in forests are possible.