Pyrenean Soil Partnership
The Pyrenean Soil Partnership (ASPir) was established in May 2021, as a sub-regional soil partnership within the ESP, to share knowledge, experiences, awareness, commitment and interest in the soils of the Pyrenees.
List of countries
France, Spain, Andorra. See the list of GSP national focal points.
Governance
Chair: Jokin del Valle de Lersundi, Spanish Society of Soil Science (SECS),
Vice-chair: Jacques Thomas, Association Française pour l’Étude du Sol (AFES),
Secretary: Agnès Lladós, Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (ICGC),
CTP: Jean-Louis Valls (delegate Eva Garcia-Balaguer OPCC-CTP) Representatives from the 7 regions
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is in charge of defining the strategic orientation (ToR) and monitoring ASPir activities. Coordinators of the working groups and a representative from each of the regions, ensure a maximum diversity of entities like public, private, associations, research organizations, natural parks.
Working groups:
- GT1: Soil information
- GT2: Dissemination - Awareness
- GT3: Soil Degredation
Objectives
To establish a Network of entities and people for cross-border cooperation in the field of soils, to share knowledge, experiences, awareness, commitment and interest in the soils of the Pyrenees. Specific objective is to have soil information (maps and databases) homogeneous for the entire mountain range. This will permit:
- To know the characteristics and location of the different types of soil in the Pyrenees
- To establish which are the best managements for the different uses and situations The comparison and exchange of experiences between the different territories on a well-established basis
- To Know the organic carbon content of soils and their sequestration capacity
- To increase its water and hydrological regulation capacity and its resistance to degradation processes such as erosion, compaction, leaching, etc.
- To disseminate and involve the true managers of the soil, that is, farmers and foresters, as well as the administration related to these activities, of the Alliance's initiatives and training proposals
- The stablishment of working groups for the development of these different objectives