Thematic Areas

The design of the Global-Change Monitoring Programme in the Sierra Nevada is based on the conceptual and thematic frameworks proposed by the GLOCHAMORE strategy (GLObal CHAnge in MOuntain REgions), sponsored by UNESCO.

For each of the thematic areas proposed by GLOCHAMORE, monitoring methodologies are defined in order to assess both the status of key ecological functions, such as the structure of the main Sierra Nevada ecosystem as well as possible global-change impact on Sierra Nevada. It also defines monitoring methods to characterize human activity in Sierra Nevada. The scheme allows us to cover many of the aspects considered to be crucial by the scientific community in evaluating the effects of global change in mountain regions. Therefore, the characterization of GLOCHAMORE thematic areas and the methodology design associated with each of them is based on scientific hypotheses to be addressed by the monitoring programme. In addition, each monitoring procedure is included into a consistent conceptual model based on the ecosystem, our tracking programme can be considered to be “monitoring based on questions”. Each protocol provides information on a number of environmental variables related to the thematic sphere covered.