��������

The Research

In the high slopes of the Pyrenees, climate change has already begun to alter the landscape. Some species are moving to higher latitudes, and some have started to decline in numbers (Chen et al. 2011; Colwell et al. 2008). The ways humans use the land also cause shifts in the natural order of things, but little research has been done on how people have impacted this particular place. Questions of how climate change and human encroachment continue to alter this alpine world need answers as local organizations work towards sustainable solutions.

Not much is known about the amazing biodiversity of the forests and alpine meadows, and your team will help identify the key species in the ecosystem and how they are changing. Your work will help researchers discover how animals are faring and how to best manage key species. Understanding the timing of such processes—the field of phenology—can help scientists learn if species’ life cycles are becoming out of sync with each other, which could have serious consequences for the health of this ecosystem.

Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees

How You Will Help

This expedition will allow you to try various field research techniques, focusing on many species. The activities below may vary depending on the specific needs of the scientists. Specifically, teams will help:

• ​�ċLarge Mammals (spring equipment set-up, summer and autumn expeditions). Will large mammals (ungulates and carnivores) be affected by the abandonment of rural activities and increasing temperatures? Your team will check several camera traps installed in the study region, which continuously take photos of all animals that pass by and download images. These cameras can offer great insight into the area’s wildlife because they’re installed far from populated and oft-visited regions. Hence, the animals’ behavior is less likely to have been shaped by humans. When you spot wildlife—a raptor soaring overhead, perhaps, or one of the area’s abundant foxes, deer, or alpine chamois—the group will stop to make observations. You’ll also walk shorter transects to look for traces of animal activity, like tracks and scat.
• Small Mammal Diversity and Abundance (summer and autumn expeditions). Shrews, mice, and voles are good indicators of biodiversity and the impacts of global warming; At the same time, some species will move to higher elevations, abandoning lower elevation territory entirely; others will expand their range to include cooler altitudes (Moritz et al. 2008). You’ll keep an eye on how small mammals in these mountains are faring and reacting to environmental changes by helping scientists humanely capture individual mammals, then tag them and record data, including weight, age, sex, and breeding condition. You won’t handle the critters yourself, but you will get close to the action to assist the experts as they work.
• Passerine Birds Phenology (spring and summer expeditions). How will forest birds that live at the tree line be affected by global change? Your team will monitor nest boxes installed throughout the research area to look for signs that birds are using them. Scientists expect breeding patterns to change due to climate change, so keeping an eye on nesting activity will reveal if and when such shifts occur.
• Bird Diversity and Abundance (spring, summer, and autumn expeditions). Are birds living at the highest elevations changing their morphological traits? Is bird diversity at these elevations changing? Birds will be banded almost daily at low and high elevations so scientists can calculate changes in the morphology and diversity of alpine bird species, complementing existing data taken by the Andorran government.
• Adult Tree Growth (spring, summer, and autumn expeditions). How are trees responding to increasing temperatures? Are their growth rates higher and/or longer, or does growth stop earlier due to increasing drought events in the summer months? Two kinds of dendrometers (with different resolutions) will be installed to follow tree growth at low and high elevations. You will help the scientists gather the data from these dendrometers and help review the collected data at the accommodations.
• Soil Studies (spring, summer, and autumn expeditions). How do the changing environmental conditions at high elevations (namely temperature and precipitation) affect organic matter decomposition (soil respiration)? To answer this important question and calculate carbon balances, we will use a standard methodology to assess soil organic matter decomposition, which entails observing the decrease in the mass of tea bags (Keuskamp et al., 2013). Teams will collaborate to install the tea bags in May and July, and subsequent teams will collect them in July and September. Tea bags will be cleaned, labeled, and classified at the accommodations to be taken to the lab to dry.
• Seedling Growth (spring, summer, and autumn expeditions). An experiment has been set up to study the growth of Scots and Black pine seedlings at two elevations. Both seedlings species were planted in 2019 at low and high elevations (a total of 1800 seedlings per species), and morphologic measurements will be done during each expedition. 

Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees

Essential Eligibility Requirements

All participants must be able to:

• Walk up to 2–12 km daily over rocky, off-trail, steep (and sometimes very steep) alpine terrain. Elevation gains will vary daily but will be around 500m (except in one site, where elevation gain is 900m, where teams are organized accordingly; i.e., not all participants must walk to this site). (Please see the video below this bullet list.)
• Complete walking transects amidst potential physical impacts of altitude. The average project elevation in Andorra is roughly 2,000 m (6,500 ft). Elevation gains during research transects will vary daily, but they will be around 500m (1,640 ft.), [except in one site, where elevation gain is 900m (3,000 ft), where teams are organized accordingly, i.e., not all participants must walk to this one site]. 
• Carry personal daily supplies such as lunch, water, and some small field equipment while hiking (field material will not be heavier than 1.5 kg).
• Get up into and down out of a four-wheel-drive vehicle, minibus, or car and ride, seated with the seatbelt fastened.
• Enjoy being outdoors all day in all types of weather in the potential presence of insects and other wild animals.
• Follow verbal and/or visual instructions independently or with the assistance of a companion.
• Take an active role in one’s safety by recognizing and avoiding hazards if and when they arise (including, but not limited to, those described in �������� materials and safety briefings). Always comply with project staff instructions and recommended safety measures.
• Be able to effectively communicate with the staff if they are experiencing distress or need assistance.
• Be able to get along with a variety of people from different backgrounds, often in close proximity, for the duration of the team.
• Be comfortable being surrounded by a language and/or culture that is not your own.

.

Travel Planning

RENDEZVOUS LOCATION

All teams except the Teen Team

Barcelona-Sants Bus Station, Barcelona, Spain

Teen Team

Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN), Barcelona, Spain

Specific travel planning details will be provided in your �������� Expedition Logistics Document. This document can be found in your once you enroll. Please do not book travel arrangements—such as flights—until the Expedition Logistics Document matching the current year has been published to your portal account.

ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION

�������� strongly recommends that travelers investigate their destination before departure. Familiarity with the destination’s entry/exit requirements, visas, local laws, and customs can ensure smooth travel. and are helpful resources. For LGBTI travelers, the contains many useful tips and links.

COUNTRY AND PROJECT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You are responsible for reviewing and abiding by your destination's entry/exit requirements. 

Entry visa requirements differ by country of origin, layover, and destination and do change unexpectedly. For this reason, please confirm your visa requirements at the time of booking and again 90 days before travel. Please apply early for your visa (we recommend starting six months before the start of your expedition). Refunds will not be made for volunteers who cancel due to not obtaining their visa in time to meet the team at the rendezvous. You can find up-to-date visa requirements at the following website:

If a visa is required, participants should apply for a TOURIST visa. Please note that obtaining a visa can take weeks or even months. We strongly recommend using a visa agency to expedite and simplify the process.

Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees

Health and Safety

EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELD

Project staff members are not medical professionals.

�������� has a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week emergency hotline number. Someone is always on call to respond to messages that come into our live answering service.

All projects have detailed Emergency Response Plans; this will be shared with participants at the start of each team.

IMMUNIZATIONS & TRAVEL VACCINATIONS

Please be sure your routine immunizations are up to date and that you have the appropriate vaccinations for your travel destination. Medical decisions are the responsibility of each volunteer and their doctor. Visit the or the for guidance on immunizations. 

If traveling from countries or regions where yellow fever is endemic, you must have a certificate of vaccination. 

Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, including receiving booster doses, as applicable, is strongly encouraged. For more details, please visit. For more details, please visit .

PROJECT RISKS AND CONDITIONS

Transportation

Only qualified drivers will transfer volunteers in project vehicles; we ensure project vehicles are well maintained. Seatbelts must always be worn. Volunteers are not permitted to drive.

Working at High Altitudes

While most of the project tasks will occur at or below 2,500 meters above sea level, volunteers should be aware that they are working in areas with thinner air and may become tired or out of breath. Be sure to hydrate and take breaks frequently. While altitude sickness is unlikely, project staff will be trained to recognize the symptoms and manage issues accordingly.

Hiking

Most activities require walking in an alpine environment during most of the day. Although there will be many stops during these treks, the terrain can be steep or very steep in some sections, and off-trail sections are common daily. Volunteers are asked to have some experience hiking in mountain environments.

Getting Lost

Staff will count team members frequently and caution you against going off alone. Please inform project staff if you need a moment away from the team. Volunteers will always work in groups of at least two. The scientists always take great care to know where each volunteer works so volunteers can be located quickly.

Animals/Plants

Very few animals or plants are dangerous in the region. None of the activities require the manipulation of these species or looking for them, so encounters are likely to be very infrequent. Activities also occur in a region where brown bears live, but the low abundance of this species also makes encounters very rare and unlikely. Volunteers will be taught about these species and what to do in case of encounters.

Personal Security

The region is safe, and volunteers generally do not need to worry about personal security. As a precaution, valuables should not be left in the open and should be stored away when not in use. It is possible to lock valuables in your hotel rooms.

Distance from Medical Care

If you have a chronic condition that could require immediate medical care (e.g., heart condition, kidney problems, severe asthma, etc.), or if you are pregnant, please discuss your participation on this expedition with your physician. Some trails are remote, and medical evacuation will be accessible only by helicopter.

Climate/Weather

Dehydration, heat exhaustion, sunburn, and other heat-related illnesses can occur, but you can protect yourself by drinking sufficient water, wearing high-SPF sunscreen, and wearing appropriate clothing. Dehydration from sweating can be a problem; please bring your water bottles that you can easily carry and refill them with electrolyte-replacement packets. At high altitudes, there can be quick weather changes and shifts in temperature. Packing layers will be essential each day. In winter, temperatures can be quite low (expect starting temperatures in the morning to be below 0ºC), so please pay special attention to the packing list.

Project Tasks/Equipment

Most activities do not require carrying heavy scientific material, and volunteers will only need to help carry small equipment to the field along with their personal items. A 40-liter backpack will be sufficient.

Risk of COVID-19 or Other Respiratory Illness

�������� strongly encourages you to take precautions to help protect yourself and others from common viral respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV: stay up to date with your vaccinations; wash your hands frequently; take steps to improve air quality, for example, by increasing ventilation indoors or gathering outdoors; and use preventative measures to limit the spread if you are sick. 

Persons with a higher risk of severe respiratory illness should consult their healthcare provider before participating. 

Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees