This includes processes considered more genuinely global and is precisely the
processes that can be observed better from the mountains, as exceptional lookouts. In
this sense, mountain ecosystems are key observatories of the atmosphere and all the
aspects related to climate such as energy balance, UV radiation, atmospheric particle
deposition, pollutants, greenhouse gases, or the transport of resistant biological
forms and microorganisms (Beniston 2003; Huber et al. 2005; Zamora et al. 2016).
16.3 Conceptual and Method-Related Issues
Given the complexity of natural systems and the variety of factors that influence
natural processes, monitoring programmes clearly need conceptual frameworks that
help organize the information gathered. These programmes to be effective should be
based on well-defined specific questions within a clearly stated framework providing scientific hypotheses and predictable scenarios of change. Otherwise, it
could turn into an exercise in “fishing”, with the risk of the monitoring programme
ending up with a collection (a hodgepodge as broad as the kinds of specialists
involved) of pseudo-indicators in which all taxonomic and/or thematic variable
entities capable of being measured are jumbled together. In fact, many monitoring
initiatives have a narrow thematic scope. In our case, the goal is to identify the best
biophysical and socioeconomic indicators of the health of our ecosystems under a
global change scenario, and to determine the exposure and sensitivity of ecosystems
to environmental changes, and their ability to adapt to global change (Hansen et al.
2014; Zamora et al. 2016). Besides the rigour necessary within a specific scientific
framework, a monitoring programme should be guided by human needs, identifying
key environmental and economic services that the public receives from ecosystems.
In doing so, monitoring programmes are also valuable for society in general as well
as to scientists and managers in particular (Lindenmayer and Likens 2009).
The design of the Global Change Monitoring programme in Sierra Nevada has
been inspired by the conceptual framework and the thematic areas proposed by
the GLOCHAMORE (Global Change in Mountain Regions http://mri.scnatweb.
ch/projects/glochamore sponsored initiative UNESCO) (Grabherr et al. 2005) and
related initiatives. Our monitoring programme is based on evaluating, using
standardized protocols, the composition, structure and functioning of the
ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada‚ and its dynamics over the middle to long term.
This programme is designed to identify the effects of global change on key
biophysical processes in mountain ecosystems, providing a vision of the trends of
change that allow the development of an adaptive capacity. The long-term
evaluation of ecosystems function and services in a context of global change is a
primary aim of our approach. Long-term series collected in our programme will
help us to forecast the evolution of our ecosystems under new scenarios, with the
use of modelling tools.
Within the monitoring programme, the way to foster cooperation between
research groups of the University of Granada (Spain) and other research institutions
388
R. Zamora et al.
processes that can be observed better from the mountains, as exceptional lookouts. In
this sense, mountain ecosystems are key observatories of the atmosphere and all the
aspects related to climate such as energy balance, UV radiation, atmospheric particle
deposition, pollutants, greenhouse gases, or the transport of resistant biological
forms and microorganisms (Beniston 2003; Huber et al. 2005; Zamora et al. 2016).
16.3 Conceptual and Method-Related Issues
Given the complexity of natural systems and the variety of factors that influence
natural processes, monitoring programmes clearly need conceptual frameworks that
help organize the information gathered. These programmes to be effective should be
based on well-defined specific questions within a clearly stated framework providing scientific hypotheses and predictable scenarios of change. Otherwise, it
could turn into an exercise in “fishing”, with the risk of the monitoring programme
ending up with a collection (a hodgepodge as broad as the kinds of specialists
involved) of pseudo-indicators in which all taxonomic and/or thematic variable
entities capable of being measured are jumbled together. In fact, many monitoring
initiatives have a narrow thematic scope. In our case, the goal is to identify the best
biophysical and socioeconomic indicators of the health of our ecosystems under a
global change scenario, and to determine the exposure and sensitivity of ecosystems
to environmental changes, and their ability to adapt to global change (Hansen et al.
2014; Zamora et al. 2016). Besides the rigour necessary within a specific scientific
framework, a monitoring programme should be guided by human needs, identifying
key environmental and economic services that the public receives from ecosystems.
In doing so, monitoring programmes are also valuable for society in general as well
as to scientists and managers in particular (Lindenmayer and Likens 2009).
The design of the Global Change Monitoring programme in Sierra Nevada has
been inspired by the conceptual framework and the thematic areas proposed by
the GLOCHAMORE (Global Change in Mountain Regions http://mri.scnatweb.
ch/projects/glochamore sponsored initiative UNESCO) (Grabherr et al. 2005) and
related initiatives. Our monitoring programme is based on evaluating, using
standardized protocols, the composition, structure and functioning of the
ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada‚ and its dynamics over the middle to long term.
This programme is designed to identify the effects of global change on key
biophysical processes in mountain ecosystems, providing a vision of the trends of
change that allow the development of an adaptive capacity. The long-term
evaluation of ecosystems function and services in a context of global change is a
primary aim of our approach. Long-term series collected in our programme will
help us to forecast the evolution of our ecosystems under new scenarios, with the
use of modelling tools.
Within the monitoring programme, the way to foster cooperation between
research groups of the University of Granada (Spain) and other research institutions
388
R. Zamora et al.