Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

35.7 per cent of the area of Andorra is part of a protected natural area [ ] 47 Defining a national network of spaces of interest coherent with neighbouring countries In recent years, Andorra has concen- trated much of its efforts to manage biodiversity in the setting up of protected natural areas, with the es- tablishment of two areas of municipal governance in the valleys of Sorteny and Comapedrosa. Another site, the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley, has been added to the world heritage list by UNESCO as a cultural landscape, and is protected at national level. These sites cover over 10,000 ha, approxi- mately 23 per cent of the territory. All of these protected areas have significant ecological value because of their great diversity of ecosystems as well as the genetic and biological specificity of certain species that live there, many of which are endemic to the Pyrenean arc. Local conditions have produced a rich mosaic of habitats, covered with vegetation typical of the subalpine bi- ogeographical stages of 1,800–2,400m such as Black pine (Pinus uncinata) and deciduous groves near streams (Betula, Corylus, Salix). The Alpine stage of above 2,400m has typical mountain plants of (Genista, Calluna, Rhododendron, Juniperus) and the herbaceous acidophilic communities of gespet and large grasses (Festu- ca, Agrostis, Nardos). The glacial origin of these spaces determines the location of high mountain wetlands such as streams, lakes and peatlands, with significant biodiversity that has signalled their inclusion on the Ramsar Convention’s list of wetlands of international importance. The natural landscape also shows traces of ancient use by man such as traditional agriculture and iron extraction. Andorra therefore demonstrates an excellent result for Aichi strategic goal C — to improve the state of bio- diversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity and, more specifically, for objective 11 that requires, by 2020, at least 17 per cent of land and inland waters and 10 per cent of marine and coastal areas are maintained through environmentally friendly networks Protected areas within Andorra are bordered by protected areas in France and Spain, which largely ensures their ecological connectivity — 34 per cent of the length of the border with Andorra’s neighbouring coun- tries links protected natural areas, in particular natural parks and Natura 2000 Sites. In this way, Andorra has defined a national network of spaces of interest coherent with neighbour- ing countries. In addition, trilateral cooperation agreements have been signed with Spain and France to work together on topics related to wildlife, specifically bear and wolf in the Pyrenees, and for the reintroduction of some threat- ened and extinct fauna populations. Parc Naturel de la Vallée de Sorteny Andorra L ocated to the west of the Pyrenees massif in southern Europe, Andorra is a landlocked country composed of steep mountains which, in recent decades, have experienced a general loss of biodiversity in the valleys due to urbanization. However, the affected area is only 1.8 per cent of the national territory where 60 per cent of the population lives. In the rest of the country, biodiversity is maintained or even increased due to the decrease in anthropogenic pressure on the natural environment. The natural spaces have nearly reached 17,000 ha, (over 35 per cent of the territory) and all benefit from protection. As a result, Andorra has reached and exceeded Aichi’s objective 11. Ministeri de Medi Ambient, Agricultura i Sostenibilitat, Govern d’Andorra