Catalonia, Spain

Regional Replicators

Catalonia, in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, features 9700 named mountains divided into three regions: the Pyrenees, the Catalan Coastal Range, and the Catalan Central Depression. Nearly half of the Pyrenees, stretching 200 km along the northern edge, resides within Catalonia, connecting with the Axial Pyrenees to the west. 

Catalonia lies entirely in the Mediterranean basin, characterized by summer droughts and precipitation concentrated in spring and summer. Climate change projections provided by most models confirm that there will be an increase in the average annual temperature between +0.9°C to +2°C for the period between 2031 and 2050 for Catalonia as a whole. Despite most models suggesting a decline in precipitation levels, episodes of torrential rain may also increase. Thus, the severity and duration of droughts could increase significantly due to the combined effect of increased temperature and a decline in precipitation. This will notably impact forest fire risk, which has been increasing over the last decades.  

Challenges

In recent decades, the Pyrenees have experienced accelerated environmental change, such as rising temperatures surpassing global averages, altered precipitation regimes, and a notable decline in snow cover and glacial mass. These processes have led to increased climatic variability and a higher frequency of extreme events, directly impacting local ecosystems and reducing the reliability of snow-based tourism, which is a key economic activity. Furthermore, climate-induced changes in hydrology and vegetation patterns are affecting traditional land uses such as livestock farming and forestry. With a population of approximately 76,543 inhabitants, representing less than 1% of Catalonia’s total, the region is marked by low population density, demographic ageing, and rural depopulation. Economic dependence on seasonal tourism and primary sectors renders local communities particularly vulnerable to environmental shifts. These issues underscore the need for integrated, nature-based solutions that address both ecological vulnerability and socio-territorial cohesion. 

What has been done so far?

So far, as a replicator region in the MountResilience project, we have participated in the Inter-regional Cross-Pollination (ICP) sessions, where the demonstrator regions, Lapland, Tirol, and Piemonte, have shared the actions they are implementing, the main challenges they are encountering, and the progress they are making. 
We have also begun engaging with a few stakeholders.  

Contact

Bernat Claramunt: Lecturer at UAB and Senior Researcher at CREAF – bernat@creaf.uab.cat

Cristina Espinar: Head of the Mountain Policy General Direction 

Mariona Kirchner: Research Technician at CREAF – m.kirchner@creaf.cat