The Executive Council of the Generalitat has confirmed David Vallvé as the new director of the Institut per al Desenvolupament i la Promoció de l’Alt Pirineu i Aran (IDAPA), a body dedicated to advancing the economic and social vitality of Catalonia’s mountain comarcas.
Vallvé, born in Barcelona in 1967 and a biology graduate from the University of Barcelona, has spent the past two decades in leadership roles in La Seu d’Urgell. He served as director of the city’s Sports Service and, since 2024, as an advisor to the mayor on event organisation and municipal management.
He is also a professional basketball coach and lecturer at the Catalan Basketball Federation’s coaching school and the INEFC Lleida’s master’s programme in sports management.
Supporting mountain communities
IDAPA operates under the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition and focuses on six mountain areas: Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, Pallars Jussà, Pallars Sobirà and Val d’Aran. Its mission is to promote integrated socio-economic development and support territorial planning policies across these sparsely populated, nature-rich regions.
The institute works to address challenges linked to geography and demography, including limited connectivity, housing shortages, access to public services, and economic reliance on tourism and primary sectors.
The appointment reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening local governance and targeted investment in mountain territories.
Economic and environmental balance
IDAPA coordinates between the Generalitat, municipalities, county councils, and other stakeholders to identify local needs and integrate them into public policy. Key areas include supporting entrepreneurship, boosting the agri-food and forestry sectors, promoting sustainable tourism, and enhancing natural and cultural heritage.
It also contributes to efforts against depopulation, energy transition, mobility improvements, and service delivery. The institute supports research and data collection to inform decision-making and monitor demographic and economic trends in the region.
A recent initiative by IDAPA includes a new €125,000 subsidy line for municipalities to create digital inventories of local paths, supporting hiking and cycle tourism while preserving natural access networks (govern.cat).
Primary sources: govern.cat, territori.gencat.cat, eb.gencat.cat, mediambient.repositori.gencat.cat. Reported by gentedigital.es, ca.wikipedia.org, bondia.ad, viurealspirineus.cat, viurealspirineus, vilaweb.cat, La Valira.
