The ecosystem of the Cem river, valleys and canyons form an area of very high biodiversity.
The riparian zones of Cem support hundreds of plant and animal species endemic to the region.
Mammals include wild boars, brown bears red foxes, brown hares, pine martens and the - until recently - endangered Eurasian otter.
A complete survey of the total number of mammal species in Cem has not yet been undertaken.

Many bird species live on the banks of Cem, principally in its canyon which is an Important Bird Area.
Short-toed snake eagles, Levant sparrowhawks and the rock partridge use the canyon for breeding and nesting in the summer months.
The Egyptian vulture, an endangered species - once very common in the Balkans - lived in the canyon until 1997, when it became extinct in Cem as in many other areas in the Balkans.
In Albania, 130 bird species in total have been identified in Cem and its tributaries.

There live 22 species of fish in the river including endemic marble trout and eel.
Cem's elevation range affects flora distribution zones.
In altitude between 900–1200 m oak trees are very common in Selcë and Vukël, but as elevation drops pomegranates become much more common.
In the river basin and wider area about 40% of the total plant species found in the country have been identified.
 In the Cem canyon there have been identified 813 plant species which increase to a total of 959 in the wider canyon area.
Cem canyon is host to a quarter of the total plant species of Montenegro.

Identification of flora in Cem hasn't been completed.
In 2018, the moss species Fissidens fontanus was identified in Cem near Podgorica and Sitnica.
This is the first time the species is reported in Montenegro.
The ecosystem of the Cem river, valleys and canyons form an area of very high biodiversity. The riparian zones of Cem support hundreds of plant and animal species endemic to the region. Mammals include wild boars, brown bears red foxes, brown hares, pine martens and the - until recently - endangered Eurasian otter. A complete survey of the total number of mammal species in Cem has not yet been undertaken.
Many bird species live on the banks of Cem, principally in its canyon which is an Important Bird Area. Short-toed snake eagles, Levant sparrowhawks and the rock partridge use the canyon for breeding and nesting in the summer months. The Egyptian vulture, an endangered species - once very common in the Balkans - lived in the canyon until 1997, when it became extinct in Cem as in many other areas in the Balkans. In Albania, 130 bird species in total have been identified in Cem and its tributaries.
There live 22 species of fish in the river including endemic marble trout and eel. Cem's elevation range affects flora distribution zones. In altitude between 900–1200 m oak trees are very common in Selcë and Vukël, but as elevation drops pomegranates become much more common. In the river basin and wider area about 40% of the total plant species found in the country have been identified.  In the Cem canyon there have been identified 813 plant species which increase to a total of 959 in the wider canyon area. Cem canyon is host to a quarter of the total plant species of Montenegro.
Identification of flora in Cem hasn't been completed. In 2018, the moss species Fissidens fontanus was identified in Cem near Podgorica and Sitnica. This is the first time the species is reported in Montenegro.
Cem (river)