SOLPYR strengthens the mapping of Pyrenean soils through fieldwork in Navarre

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SOLPYR strengthens the mapping of Pyrenean soils through fieldwork in Navarre

June 23, 2026

The SOLPYR project, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg POCTEFA programme, brought together its partners and experts in Navarre on 16, 17 and 18 June to advance the analysis, classification and characterisation of Pyrenean soils. The technical workshop, held in the Roncal Valley, combined working sessions with field visits to different areas of the Navarrese Pyrenees. The meeting made it possible to study different types of soils and landscapes at various altitudes, as well as to analyse the relationship between soil characteristics, climate change and the human uses that have shaped the territory over the centuries.

The overall objective of SOLPYR is to support the protection and conservation of mountain soils, as well as their resilience to climate change. To this end, the project focuses on developing knowledge, defining good practices, analysing the main vulnerabilities, and raising awareness among the general public and mountain users about the conservation of this fragile resource.

One of the project’s main objectives is to develop harmonised mapping at a scale of 1:400,000 for the entire Pyrenean massif. This tool aims to improve knowledge of mountain soils, raise awareness of their importance, and highlight their vulnerability to human activities. The project will make this mapping available to the community through the OPCC Geoportal.

During the workshop held this month, the partners visited different sites in the Navarrese Pyrenees, including Belagua, Larra, Roncal, the Arbayun Gorge, Romanzado, Lumbier, and the Sangüesa area. The visit made it possible to observe the soils of the Larra karst, as well as flysch soils, marls, and river terraces, and to highlight the importance of altitude and aspect in their development.

This initiative also provided an opportunity to address the ongoing transformation of the Pyrenean landscape. For generations, livestock farming, forestry, and traditional land uses have shaped the socioeconomic organisation of these valleys. Today, the gradual abandonment of many of these activities and the acceleration of climate change are transforming the landscape, with the disappearance of pastures, the expansion of forest cover, and the reconfiguration of land uses.

In this context, SOLPYR has highlighted the importance of improving knowledge of the soils and landscapes of the Pyrenees in order to understand their vulnerability, anticipate changes, and promote more respectful management of an essential resource that is non-renewable on a human timescale: soil.

The technical workshop strengthened exchanges between partner organisations and helped to further build cooperation aimed at conserving the soils and landscapes of the Pyrenees.

The SOLPYR project runs for three years, from 2024 to 2026, and has a total budget of €1,795,513. It is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with funding of €1,142,108, under the Interreg POCTEFA programme.