Elena Villagrasa Ferrer, director of Spain's Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, died suddenly on Friday, September 26, in the town of Escalona, Huesca. The protected natural area announced the news through social media, confirming the 61-year-old geologist and conservationist passed away from natural causes.
Villagrasa made history in 2020 when she became the first woman to lead the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, one of the most emblematic protected areas in the Aragonese Pyrenees. Her commitment to managing and protecting this environment was constant, with colleagues noting she participated in a meeting related to the Park's Natural Resources Management Plan just hours before her death.
The park administration released an emotional statement expressing profound sadness and describing the immense void Villagrasa leaves behind. "Elena dedicated a large part of her years of work, effort and passion to our National Park," the statement read, noting her deep connection to the Pyrenean mountains and valleys she "loved and defended." Colleagues pledged to continue her example to ensure the park remains a protected space of encounter and unity.
The regional Government of Aragon lamented her passing, highlighting her commitment to Pyrenean conservation and exemplary dedication to public service. Villagrasa, originally from Bujaraloz, Zaragoza, maintained strong ties to her hometown, which honored her as honorary town crier during its 2024 patron saint festivities. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, September 27, in Bujaraloz, where she will be laid to rest in her native land.
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