Study finds forests at Aigüestortes National Park on 8 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 06:02 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- A study released on 8 October 2026 found that Aigüestortes National Park contains Spain's greatest quantity and quality of old-growth forests.
- Researchers assessed 20 forests in Aigüestortes National Park, with maturity scores ranging from 5.3 to 8.7 out of 10.
- The fourth ecological and forest inventory sampled 192 plots inside the park and its peripheral protection zone.
- The study compared forest data from 2024 with earlier inventories from 1993, 2004 and 2014.
Aigüestortes National Park (Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici) is at the centre of a forest study released on 8 October 2026. The research identifies the park in the Catalan Pyrenees as containing Spain's greatest quantity and quality of old-growth forests, linking a fresh scientific finding with a protected landscape near Boi.
Study released on 8 October examines mature forests
The study was led by the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications, known as CREAF, and the Centre for Forest Science and Technology of Catalonia, or CTFC. The BHAVEC project examined forest maturity across the national park and its peripheral protection zone, with funding from the European Union's Next Generation resources.
Researchers assessed 20 forest stands and recorded maturity scores from 5.3 to 8.7 out of 10. The results place the highest-scoring stands well above Catalonia's average of 2.3, as recorded in the 2020 State of Nature Report. The study released on 8 October 2026 was commissioned by the park and led by CTFC and CREAF.
Aigüestortes forests show higher maturity in key valleys
The 20 most mature stands cover 432 hectares. Most are silver fir forests, while four stands are Scots pine and three are mountain pine. They are concentrated in the Sant Nicolau and Espot valleys inside the strict protection zone, with further stands in the Colomèrs valley within the peripheral zone.
The fourth Ecological and Forest Inventory sampled and analysed 192 plots. Its purpose was to record the conservation status, maturity and composition of forests across the park and its surrounding protected area. The CREAF study findings also compare the latest results with inventories from 1993, 2004 and 2014.
Forest inventory links old-growth stands with protection
The comparison found that forests in the national park and its peripheral zone have become more mature over the past three decades. Researchers recorded more large trees, more deadwood and greater structural and species diversity than in earlier assessments.
Old-growth stands contain trees of different ages and sizes, together with deadwood and small features such as cavities, wounds and loose bark. These structures create shelter and food for wildlife, while the forest layers help retain moisture. The research therefore gives travellers a more precise way to understand why the protected valleys around Boi matter beyond their scenery.
Visiting Aigüestortes National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The forest finding was released on 8 October 2026 and concerns stands inside the national park and its peripheral protection zone.
- The announcement is a research finding rather than a special opening or closure, and it does not announce a new visitor entrance.
- The named forest areas are in the Sant Nicolau, Espot and Colomèrs valleys, while Boi is a reference area for access to the park.
- The terrain is high-mountain country containing forested valleys, large trees, deadwood and protected areas. The research does not change the physical character of the trails.
- Spain's official language is Spanish and its currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Aigüestortes National Park
When was the Aigüestortes forest study released?
The study was released on 8 October 2026. It identifies the park as containing Spain's greatest quantity and quality of old-growth forests.
Where are the mature forests in Aigüestortes National Park?
The 20 most mature stands are concentrated in the Sant Nicolau and Espot valleys, with further stands in the Colomèrs valley.
What is Aigüestortes National Park?
It is a national park in the Catalan Pyrenees, with the study covering forests inside the park and its peripheral protection zone.
