LifeWatch ERIC

SMART ECOMOUNTAINS Project

Ref.: LIFEWATCH-2019-01-0MAU-01

Diputación de Granada Universidad de Granada
Mapa Sierra Nevada

University of Granada

Diputación de Granada

Developer entities

Sierra Nevada and surroundings

Scope of action

Biodiversity under Global Change in Mountain ecosystems

Mountains around the world are critical for biodiversity and contain a quarter of terrestrial species, numerous endemisms and half of biodiversity hotspots.Mountains also provide vital ecosystem services for highlands and lowlands. Understanding the dynamic nature of mountain ecosystems, and the consequences of human activities, is essential for management decision-making aimed at 'maintain or restore the ecological integrity of ecosystems and minimize or mitigate ecological threats to these systems.

The present and future challenge in high mountain conservation lies in determining the exposure and sensitivity of these ecosystems to environmental changes, and their ability to adapt to global change

(Hansen et al. 2014, Zamora et al. 2016)

Fundamentals for biodiversity
Decision making based on the dynamics of the ecosystem and human activities
Study of the capacity to adapt to global change

Principal actors

The University of Granada (UGR)

Sierra Nevada (Andalusia, SE Spain)

Sierra Nevada and Global Change

The University of Granada (UGR)

The UGR has a long research tradition in Sierra Nevada and is an international reference in scientific fields related to biodiversity and its ecological and functional aspects.

Precisely, these scientific areas have decided to unify their forces to collaborate with to develop a Thematic Center on Mountain Ecosystems (University of Granada-Sierra Nevada). Also, the Junta de Andalucía and the UGR maintain an agreement to develop activities linked to the Observatory of the Sierra Nevada Global Change (OBSNEV), within the framework of the Network of Global Change Observatories of Andalusia. This agreement establishes collaboration with , especially those related to international coordination, research and monitoring of the mountain ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada.

Thematic Center on Mountain Ecosystems

Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory (OBSNEV)

Sierra Nevada (Andalusia, SE Spain)

Sierra Nevada is a mountainous region of more than 2,000 km2 with an altitudinal range of between 860 m and 3,482 m a.s.l. The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by winters cold and humid and hot and dry summers

It houses 27 types of habitats of the Habitats Directive and is an important critical point of biodiversity in the Mediterranean region. Sierra Nevada accumulates almost 30% of the vascular flora of the Iberian Peninsula , although it represents only 0.4% of its surface. Furthermore, Sierra Nevada stands out not only for its diversity but also for its uniqueness, since more than 20% of its flora is endemic

Sierra Nevada receives legal protection in multiple ways, including UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; Special Area of Conservation (Natura 2000 network); Natural Park and National Park and IBA(Important Bird Area). Sierra Nevada is also included in the World Green List of Protected Areas (IUCN) and is part of the Spanish LTSER (Long-Term Social-Ecological Research) network

2000 km2

Area occupied by the Sierra Nevada mountain system

27 habitats

It accumulates almost 30% of the vascular flora of the Iberian Peninsula

UNESCO

Sierra Nevada receives legal protection in multiple ways

Sierra Nevada and Global Change

Since 2007, the Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory (OBSNEV) is the object of an ambitious project promoted by the Regional Government of Andalusia with the scientific coordination of the UGR, with the objective to develop a monitoring and information management program

The design of the OBSNEV monitoring program has been inspired by the GLOCHAMORE initiative (Global Change in Mountain Regions). The architecture of the OBSNEV monitoring program is based on evaluating, through standardized methodological protocols, the functioning of the ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Natural Area, its natural processes and its dynamics in the medium and long term

OBSNEV collected an enormous amount of environmental information and mobilized scientists working in the Sierra Nevada, establishing links with similar projects on a national and international scale. OBSNEV has identified the main impacts of global change and has analyzed the biophysical and socioeconomic impacts of the Sierra Nevada ecosystems in future scenarios

OBSNEV has been inspired by the GLOCHAMORE initiative

OBSNEV has identified the impacts of the global change

Biological collections

Biological collections contain thousands of preserved specimens stored, cataloged and systematically arranged as a reference for science

These collections act as a source of information on biodiversity to determine the morphology of the species, their distribution in the ecological niche, their conservation status, evolution, phenology, etc. In addition , Specimens are used to provide DNA samples to study relationships (phylogeny), evolutionary processes or ecological processes (i.e. using barcodes). They also act as vouchers to validate scientific observations, including type specimens (used in the description of known species) of a mandatory nature. Consultation and reference in the process of identification, classification and description of new species.

Biological collections provide open access information through biodiversity portals (e.g. GBIF, EOL or TROPICOS) to anyone, anywhere, about preserved specimens, acting as the main provider of information for a wide range of scientific or technical studies on biodiversity issues. Information and sharing it efficiently with the scientific world and the general public highlight its relevance and importance and justify the role of reference collections within .