<p>A 30-year study of Mediterranean rangelands reveals that land use, stocking rate, and vegetation structure are the predominant factors explaining changes in dung beetle biodiversity (alpha diversity and abundance), significantly outweighing the influence of climate change. Despite a demonstrable increase in mean annual temperature, climatic variables did not show a statistically significant correlation with the diversity or abundance of these species.</p><p>The central hypotheses were that the abandonment of agricultural activities would decrease biodiversity by promoting shrubland, while global warming could alter the species richness and abundances of some species of beetle assemblages. A comparative analysis between a protected area (Font Roja Natural Park), where traditional grazing was prohibited, and an adjacent unprotected area (Sierra de la Carrasqueta) that maintained such practices, yields critical conclusions. The highest diversity and abundance of dung beetles were consistently associated with the unprotected area, characterized by high grazing pressure (both by livestock and wild ungulates) and low scrub cover. In contrast, the protected area experienced a drastic decline in biodiversity following the elimination of livestock, followed by a partial recovery only after colonization by wild ungulates.</p><p>These findings underscore that conservation policies that involve abandoning traditional activities such as grazing can have negative ecological consequences, leading to landscape homogenization (shrubification) and biodiversity loss. The study recommends implementing adaptive management that leverages nature-based solutions, such as the use of large herbivores to maintain a mosaic vegetation structure, thereby increasing the resilience of Mediterranean rangelands to future environmental and climate changes.</p>