Alps conifer and mixed forests


The Alps conifer and mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in central Europe. It extends along the Alps mountains through portions of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia. The ecoregion extends from the lower slopes of the Alps to its peaks, which include Mont Blanc, at the highest peak in the Alps.
The Alps forests are at the transition between the Mediterranean climate regions of southern Europe and the more humid and temperate Euro-Siberian region of western, central, and northern Europe.

Flora

The ecoregion's altitudinal range, and its central location between Europe's climatic regions, support a variety of plant communities and species. The ecoregion has 4,500 native vascular plant species, including 400 endemic species.
The forests on the lower slopes are mostly deciduous broadleaf trees, including the oaks Quercus robur, Quercus petraea, Quercus pubescens. Broadleaf sclerophyllous evergreen trees are found in southern valleys adjacent to Mediterranean-climate regions.
Montane forests include a mix of conifers silver fir, Norway spruce, and mountain pine, with the broadleaf deciduous European beech. In more continental-climate parts of the range, European larch, arolla pine, and Scots pine replace Pinus mugo.
Subalpine and alpine plant communities occur above the timberline, and include many endemic species.

Fauna

The Alps are home to 80 species of mammals. Large mammals include Eurasian brown bear, Alpine ibex, Alpine chamois, Eurasian lynx, wolf, wild boar, red deer, and roe deer.
The Alps are home to 200 species of birds, including lammergeier, western capercaillie and rock ptarmigan.

Protected areas

40,470 km², or 27%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. One-third of the unprotected area is still forested. Protected areas include Ecrins National Park, Mercantour National Park, Vanoise National Park, and Queyras Regional Nature Park in France, Gran Paradiso National Park and Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park in Italy, Gruyère Pays-d'Enhault Regional Nature Park in Switzerland, Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, and Kalkalpen National Park and Gesäuse National Park in Austria.