NEW
AGENDA 21–23 OCTOBER: Technical seminar and awareness-raising day for the SOLPYR project
22 September 2025
NEIKER is hosting the 2nd Pyrenees Soil Forum, an event that includes the SOLPYR project Technical Seminar and the Awareness Day entitled ‘Mountain soils: more than just ground to walk on’.
The event will take place from 21 to 23 October 2025 at the NEIKER Arkaute facilities and in the Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park. The SOLPYR project is co-financed by the European Union through Interreg POCTEFA.
SOLPYR tiene como objetivo principal proteger y conservar los suelos de montaña en el Pirineo, mejorando su capacidad de adaptación al cambio climático. Para lograr esto, se centra en varios objetivos específicos : crear un catálogo y un mapa de suelos a escala 1:400.000, establecer una metodología para inventariar y cuantificar la degradación del suelo, y sensibilizar a la población sobre la importancia de este re
SOLPYR’s main objective is to protect and conserve mountain soils in the Pyrenees, improving their ability to adapt to climate change. To achieve this, it focuses on several specific objectives: creating a catalogue and map of soils on a scale of 1:400,000, establishing a methodology for inventorying and quantifying soil degradation, and raising awareness among the population about the importance of this resource. In addition, it seeks to foster cooperation between Pyrenean entities interested in soil conservation in order to promote better adaptation to climate change. The project is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021-2027).
- TO: SOLPYR project partners and associates, experts and external guests.
PROGRAMME
Tuesday, 21 October
SOLPYR project technical seminar (Reserved for project partners and associates)
3:30 p.m. | Welcome
3:45 p.m. | SOLPYR project management (Action 1)
4:30 p.m. | Communication (Action 2)
5:00 p.m. | Information on soils in the Pyrenees (Action 3)
6:30 p.m. | Transfer to Vitoria-Gasteiz
8:30 p.m. | Dinner in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Wednesday, 22 October
Awareness day (Open to SOLPYR project partners and associates, as well as experts and guests from outside the partnership. Limited places) and ASPIR assembly
08:30 a.m. | Departure from Arkaute to Urbia (Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park)
11:00 a.m. | Presentation: Land management in the Parzonería Mayor de Gipuzkoa y Araba. (María Eugenia Amenabar. Technical Manager of the Parzonería Mayor de Gipuzkoa y Álava)
11:30 a.m.| Presentation: Assessment of grazing resources. (Isabel Albizu. NEIKER researcher)
12:00 p.m. | Visit to the proposed edaphic itinerary in Urbia. (Octavio Artieda. Professor at the University of Extremadura)
2:00 p.m. | Lunch
3:30 p.m. | Departure for Arkaute
5:00 p.m. | ASPIR Assembly
6:30 pm | Departure for Vitoria-Gasteiz
8:30 p.m. | Dinner in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Thursday, 23 October
SOLPYR project technical seminar (Open to SOLPYR project partners and associates, as well as experts and guests from outside the partnership)
08:30 a.m. | Soil vulnerability and management (Action 4)
10:00 a.m. | Coffee break
10:30 a.m. | Raising awareness about soil and its preservation (Action 5)
12:00 p.m. | Pyrenean soil governance (Action 6)
13:30 p.m. | Lunch in Arkaute
