Andorra’s Government approves bill for first national nature park, covering 8,834 hectares in Canillo and Ordino
The initiative would increase Andorra’s protected area to 30.94% of its territory while preserving traditional land uses
Andorra’s Government has approved a bill to establish the Canillo and Ordino Valleys National Nature Park, developed jointly with the two parish councils. The text will now proceed through the General Council, Andorra’s parliament, and would create the country’s first national nature park.
The future park will cover 8,834 hectares, bringing the total proportion of protected land in Andorra to 30.94%. Its designation would allow the country to exceed the international target of conserving at least 30% of land before 2030.
The Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Guillem Casal, described the bill’s approval as a “historic milestone” and argued that protecting natural heritage is compatible with sustainable development and traditional land uses.
Livestock farming, agriculture, hunting and fishing to continue
The bill establishes a protection framework tailored to the characteristics of each area. The park’s management plan will introduce four zoning categories: moderate-use areas, restricted-use areas, reserve areas and special-use areas.
The text recognises and preserves traditional activities such as extensive livestock farming, agriculture, hunting and fishing, alongside recreational activities compatible with environmental conservation. It also rules out new infrastructure and activities that could irreversibly damage the area’s natural features.
The Mayor of Canillo, Jordi Alcobé, said the initiative would protect high-mountain areas over the long term while ensuring the continuation of activities rooted in the territory’s identity and history.
Shared management between the Government and parish councils
The proposed law provides for shared governance between the Government and the parish councils of Canillo and Ordino. Management will be organised through a governing board, a shared directorate, an advisory and participation council, and a technical secretariat.
🌳 El Govern i els comuns de @canillo_andorra i @ordinoesviu impulsen el Projecte de llei del primer parc natural nacional.https://t.co/F36alEGjpo
— Govern d'Andorra (@GovernAndorra) September 10, 2026
The aim is to coordinate the three administrations and combine the parish councils’ local knowledge with the Government’s technical and administrative resources.
The Mayor of Ordino, Maria del Mar Coma, placed the project within the parish’s longstanding commitment to environmental protection. She recalled that Ordino was the first parish to establish a nature park, with the creation of the Vall de Sorteny Nature Park, and highlighted the institutional consensus behind the joint initiative with Canillo to create the first national nature park.
Initial funding of €100,000 and annual contributions
The bill also provides for the creation of the Canillo and Ordino Valleys National Nature Park public-sector private foundation. The organisation will receive an initial €100,000 contribution from the Government, alongside a minimum annual contribution equivalent to €50 per hectare.
Based on the planned 8,834 hectares, that annual contribution would amount to €441,700, providing stable resources for the conservation, management and promotion of the natural area.
The initiative builds on the memorandum of understanding signed in 2025 by the Government and the two parish councils. The park’s formal designation remains subject to parliamentary scrutiny and approval of the bill by the General Council.