Recovering trails and landscapes: volunteering in the high mountains

News

Kilian Jornet Fundation

September 2, 2025

Kilian Jornet Fundation

September 2, 2025

This summer, the section of Trail 119 connecting the Malniu Refuge with Malniu Lake, one of the most popular in the area, was restored thanks to two volunteer initiatives led by the Kilian Jornet Foundation. The intervention is part of the Restore the Trails project, which aims to recover trails and degraded areas in mountain environments while preserving their natural, scenic, and cultural values.

This work is also part of a project funded by the Generalitat of Catalonia titled: “Conservation and Compatibility of Uses in the High Mountains of EIN Tossa Plana de Lles and Puigpedrós and in EIN Tossals de Isòvol and Olopte,” which takes place in protected areas within the Natura 2000 network. The goal is to involve local communities in the conservation of natural spaces, home to species such as the white partridge and the capercaillie, and to promote public use that is compatible with biodiversity preservation.

The actions involved collaboration with Voiles, Túnels del Cadí, the Cerdanya Hiking Center (GREC), Cerdanya Action for Climate, and the support of the restoration company Geosilva, as well as cooperation from the Meranges Town Council and the association Paisatges Vius. This combination of volunteer effort, technical expertise, and institutional support has ensured an effective and sustainable trail restoration.

Restoring Trail 119 in Cerdanya

On June 19, a group of volunteers gathered at the Malniu Refuge to start the first restoration action on Trail 119, the section that connects to Malniu Lake. With the support of Voiles and Túnels del Cadí, the day focused on restoring a 90-meter section of the trail, which was eroded and covered with loose stones, making passage difficult and posing safety risks for hikers.

Later, on August 30, a second action was carried out with the support of GREC and Cerdanya Action for Climate, reinforcing the work done in June, consolidating the restoration and maintenance of the first trail section to ensure its durability and sustainable public use.

During both days, volunteers worked diligently removing loose stones and restructuring the trail. Natural stone steps were also built to stabilize the terrain and prevent erosion, while respecting the high-mountain environment and vegetation. Additionally, several shortcuts and parallel tracks that had formed around the main trail were closed, as they could interfere with local wildlife and degrade the fragile habitats near Malniu Lake.

The impact of volunteering on nature

The volunteer actions have left a visible impact both on Trail 119 and its surrounding environment. This section, heavily used by hikers, is now safer and better organized, with reduced erosion and more protected fragile habitats near Malniu Lake.

Moreover, volunteers and the local community had the opportunity to learn hands-on and actively about high-mountain conservation, fostering environmental awareness that strengthens the connection between people and the nature around them.

After

Before

Before:

Eroded and uneven trail with loose stones.
Risk of accidents due to unstable slopes.
Steps outside the main trail, negatively affecting vegetation and wildlife.

After:

Cleaned and restructured terrain with natural stone steps.
Significant improvement in trail safety and functionality.
Landscape integration and soil conservation.

After

Before

After

Before

Restoration in the first person

To better understand how these restorations are carried out and the role of volunteering in the project, we spoke with Jordi Tutusaus, trail restoration technician at Geosilva, the company collaborating on the restoration of Trail 119.

What role does volunteering play in this project?

“Volunteering is crucial to carry out these actions. Without active citizen participation, it would be very difficult to restore trails efficiently and with social impact.”

What do participants learn?

“They learn trail restoration techniques and gain a better understanding of high-mountain ecosystems, their fragility, and how to preserve them. It is a very educational experience.”

How does this help raise environmental awareness among citizens?

“Directly participating in the conservation of the territory allows people to witness firsthand the effects of erosion and degradation and see how their actions can make a difference. This creates an emotional connection with nature and fosters respect for protected areas.”