Study area
With 3,200 km2 and a population of 4.5 million, the
Barcelona Metropolitan Region (BMR) is one of the most densely populated
regions in Europe (Fig. 4 ). However, this region still houses
several important natural and semi-natural areas featuring considerable
ecological diversity and valuable biocultural landscapes. Contrasting
topography (elevation ranges from 0 to 1700 m a.s.l.) and climate (with
gradients NE-SW from moist to dry and NE-SW from less to more
continental) bring about a greater variability than that found in
general Mediterranean conditions, which is responsible for the high
biodiversity of this highly human-transformed territory. The region
covers more than 40 habitat types of European interest (according to
92/43 EU Directive), including natural (forests, scrublands and
grasslands; 60% of the region) and semi-natural habitats (croplands;
21%).
[Insert Figure 4 here]