Elevational gradients are natural laboratories to study ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity and species distribution along environmental variation. In this framework, three alpine parks, in N-W Italy (Gran Paradiso National Park, Alpi Cozie Protected Areas, Ossola Protected Areas), shared in 2007 a field program to:

1. determine the factors influencing animal biodiversity
2. forecast the risk of biodiversity loss and
3. identify possible biodiversity indicators.

The protocol represents a monitoring effort carried out for 2 years and repeated every five (2007-2008, 2012-2013, 2018-2019, 2024-2025), that will be maintained over time to highlight the response of alpine biodiversity to environmental changes. Since 2012, three other alpine protected areas (Val Grande National Park, Stelvio National Park, Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park) shared this common protocol and applied it over time. Consequently, 6 Italian Parks, distributed along the Alps, from west to east, shared a common protocol for studying animal biodiversity in mountain ecosystems. Along 24 altitudinal transects, involving 132 sampling stations, seven taxonomic groups have been sampled (Coleoptera Carabidae, Coleoptera Staphylinidae, Araneae, Hymenoptera Formicidae, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera Papilionoidea, Aves), using semi-quantitative sampling techniques, that are easy to apply, cheap, and standardized. Such a monitoring program allows to identify of common points and differences between geographic areas and altitudinal zones. It represents a way to identify actual and future vulnerability, highlighting at the same time the strengths and weaknesses of the different applied methodologies.