Text and photo: IICG-URJC
November 11, 2025, marked International Mountain Day. Therefore, we at the IICG-URJC wanted to share a video with you all about how global change is transforming Mediterranean mountains.
Mediterranean mountains are ecosystems especially vulnerable to climate change. Recent research involving members of the URJC’s Institute for Global Change Research shows:
📉 Decline of high-mountain specialist species.
📈 Expansion of generalist species from lower elevations.
❄️ Reduction in the snowpack period and in available spring water.
🐾 Altitudinal shifts in fauna and loss of key habitats.
🌱 Weakening of plant regeneration processes.
These changes not only affect biodiversity but also directly impact essential ecosystem services, such as water regulation, soil retention, and the stability of mountain communities.
In the video, we summarize the main findings of several research projects developed by the IICG-URJC to understand these transformations and anticipate their consequences.