The Pilar Prim Room of the Comtat de Cerdanya Library in Puigcerdà was the setting for the conference “Permafrost in the Pyrenees: what is happening and why should it matter to us?”, delivered by Marc Oliva, professor at the Department of Geography of the University of Barcelona and ICREA researcher, as part of the Let's Talk Science series.
One of the central topics of the gathering was the presentation of the PERMAPYRENEES project, an initiative funded by POCTEFA funds from the European Union. This project is dedicated to studying permafrost, the permanently frozen layer of soil, in the Pyrenees. So far, surveys have confirmed the presence of permafrost in various Pyrenean locations, although researchers emphasize the need for further investigation. This year, studies will focus on Cerdanya, specifically in the areas of Puigpedrós and Carlit.
During the conference, the rapid disappearance of ice glaciers due to climate change was discussed, as well as the significant presence of rock glaciers in Cerdanya. Regarding permafrost, common in regions such as Greenland, Antarctica, Nordic countries, Iceland, Alaska, and Canada, it was explained that its warming, also caused by climate change, poses a threat to infrastructures built on this soil.
More data is needed to change high mountain operating protocols and possibly recommend that areas with permafrost not be visited during the warmest months of the year, and the need to educate people about mountain knowledge and respect.
The conference concluded with a round table featuring Marc Oliva, mountaineer and communicator Araceli Segarra, Josep Ventura, and Enric Quílez, president of the Cerdanya Research Group (GRC). Participants discussed the importance of collecting more data to update high mountain safety protocols, suggesting possible access restrictions to permafrost areas during warmer months, and the relevance of fostering education and respect for the mountain environment. The event, organized by the UB, the Kilian Jornet Foundation, the GRC, and the Puigcerdà City Council, saw a notable public attendance.
