Ordino, a Biosphere Reserve
A region that strikes the right balance between the conservation of natural heritage and economic and human development.
Ordino, recognised by UNESCO
Ordino is now a certified region, thereby positioning and consolidating the Ordino brand as a quality tourist destination that highlights the parish's commitment and know-how. This will allow it to face the challenges of the future with foresight and the certainty of leaving a high-quality territorial inheritance for the coming generations.
Arcalís has undertaken to mitigate its CO2 footprint and set a goal for its reduction and offsetting with the production of solar and hydraulic power. Additionally, it has undertaken to reduce the more than 80,000 litres of diesel oil used for heating, replacing this with alternative energy such as geothermal energy, remain committed to sustainable transport in the parish and install new electric vehicle charging points in the Hortell and Planells areas. And it has also undertaken to reduce single-use containers and help its permanent staff to become trained as Biosphere Reserve informants.
Ordino Arcalís has been an energy self-sufficient resort since 2016, when it inaugurated the mini hydraulic plant that provides its installations with power all year round, and in fact injects excess energy into the grid. In addition, the resort is working in parallel along different lines to reduce its impact on the environment, prioritising energy savings, the digitalisation of information and the boosting of sustainable mobility with the setting up of bus lines to facilitate entry to the resort during the winter, amongst many other actions.
This is the second seal after the Borda de Sorteny refuge received recognition.
Sorteny Valley Natural Park
The main pillars of any candidacy rest on three elements: the core area, the buffer zone and the transition area.
The Sorteny Valley Natural Park is the central area of the Biosphere Reserve. With a surface area of 1,080 hectares, the Valley is a protected region that contributes to the protection of geological heritage, vegetation, fauna, the atmosphere and the landscape. It likewise promotes research, as well as cultural and tourist promotion of the area sustainably.
In the heart of the Sorteny Valley, a mountain shelter with the same name can be found. It is open in summer and winter and boasts facilities that will let you disconnect amidst the sheer magnificence of the valley. It is one of Andorra's mountain shelters par excellence, located at an altitude of 1,965 metres, which will let you discover first-hand why Ordino has become a UNESCO-certified destination.
Buffer zone and transition area
The buffer or protected zone represents the reserve’s largest area. This is mainly comprised of forests, meadows and summits, and it includes most of the lakes in the territory.
It is exclusively public property and freely accessible, and it is of vital importance as it contributes to the socio-economic development and civil protection of society by providing access to basic resources, flora and fauna, recreational services, sporting events, etc.
And finally, the third main zone of the Biosphere Reserve is the transition area, comprised of the urban areas and spaces with the greatest number of activities that promote economic and human development from a social, cultural and ecological standpoint. This is also where the Ordino Arcalís ski resort is located, a winter destination highly appreciated for its landscapes and the quality of snow.
