La Seu d'Urgell will host the fifth edition of the Alt Pirineu and Aran Natural Environment Conservation Conference, focusing on aquatic ecosystems and water usage. The event will take place on 21 and 22 November and is titled "Aquatic ecosystems and the uses and abuses of water."
The presentation of the conference included remarks from the mayor of La Seu d'Urgell, Joan Barrera, along with deputy mayor and environmental councillor David Servat, municipal technician Esther Canturri, and conference director David Manzanera. Mayor Barrera stated, "We believe it is the duty of the administration to contribute to raising awareness among citizens about the importance of conserving our environment and natural surroundings, and that any gesture each of us can make to preserve it is important and necessary."
David Manzanera noted, "This year marks the fifth edition of the Natural Environment Conservation Conference, which is gradually establishing itself in our city and positioning it as a reference for promoting the importance of biodiversity conservation."
In celebration of the fifth anniversary, the mayor explained that the event aims to be more inclusive, reaching a broader audience. As a result, the variety of activities has been expanded to include not only scientific aspects but also public events for children and young people.
Conference schedule
The main events will take place at the Sala de la Inmaculada, featuring a series of lectures and open debates:
- Saturday, 21 November:
- 09:30 - Institutional welcome and presentation of the 2026 edition.
- 10:00 - Inaugural lecture by Pere Renom, biologist and reporter for TV3.
- 11:30 - Block on aquatic ecosystems: Knowledge, status, and conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
- 16:30 - Block on water usage and management: Territorial needs, water usage, and management challenges in the face of climate change.
- 19:15 - Environmental cinema with the screening of the documentary "El río renacido" followed by a discussion with the director (free activity).
- Sunday, 22 November:
- 10:00 - Experiences in managing and restoring aquatic ecosystems in the Pyrenees.
- 11:30 - Cineforum on water, territory, and ecosystem management.
- 11:45 - Open public debate on water management challenges.
- 12:30 - Interactive citizen participation activity.
- 13:00 - Institutional closure by the Generalitat de Catalunya, followed by a theatrical closing with La Biterna.
Family activities and Fireta de Natura
Alongside the talks, the Plaza de las Monjas will host the Fireta de Natura on Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, and on Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. This event will showcase crafts, organisations, and projects related to nature, biodiversity, and the territory.
Various parallel activities are planned for all audiences, including:
- Nature and childhood workshops: Making mobiles, decorating river trout, "Activating the senses" (Pedratour and Natural Parks), and a bag printing workshop.
- Wildlife discovery: Free activities with prior registration to learn about aquatic fauna through microinvertebrates and electric fishing with Sorellona and Asociación Hábitats (Saturday at 11:00 at Puente Palanca), and a night outing to search for amphibians in nearby ponds (Saturday at 18:00).
- Family Sunday: Wooden games with "Los amigos del Crusó", naturalist illustration workshops with Yolanda Sanmarcos, cookie-making workshops, the mystery game "Who committed the crime?" (Parque del Cadí, 11:00, with registration), and a wildlife release by the Rural Agents Corps (12:00).
Concert by Macaco and school activities
As a prelude to the conference, singer Macaco will perform on 13 November at 21:00 in the Sant Domènec hall to celebrate the event's fifth anniversary. Tickets are available for purchase via a QR code on the official poster.
The conference will also extend into local schools: from 18 to 26 November, workshops on native fauna (Zoo de los Pirineos) will be held for primary students, and the documentary "Un río renacido" will be screened for secondary and high school students. From 13 to 27 November, the Biblioteca Sant Agustí will feature a display on water with a selection of books about aquatic environments and their ecosystems.
Organised by the La Seu d'Urgell City Council, the conference is sponsored by IDAPA, SUNCINE, the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, and EUROPARC, with collaboration from various local and social entities.
