Balkan subalpine genistoid scrub

This habitat encompasses genistoid dominated high mountain scrub in the Balkan, Apennines and southern outcrops of the Alps. It can be found mainly on carbonate and ultramaphic bedrock, in places also over siliceous bedrock. The genistoid scrub (mainly dominated by Genista radiata) can reach about one meter and forms dense communities. It prefers warm-humid habitats, where fog condensates or that are exposed to precipitation, mainly steep, sunny and rocky sites with shallow soil types, where more demanding plant species cannot thrive. It often appears on sites of degraded Pinus mugo communities. Above the timberline this habitat can form the climax vegetation and mosaics with alpine pastures, Pinus mugo and Juniperus scrub. It can thrive also in the subalpine vegetation belt, on clear cuttings, burnt sites, rocky pastures and similar habitats, or form the mantle vegetation of subalpine forests, on sites of Fagus, Picea, Betula and Larix. The dominant species of this habitat is mainly Genista radiata, but also Genista holopetala and Genista hassertiana can be regarded as an element of illyric-tertiary flora and have a relict character. Shepherds favor grasslands and they often cut or burn these shrubby-habitats to provide more grazing area, but on the other hand abandonment of traditional land use leads to an increase of the surface occupied by this habitat.

Indicators of quality:

This vegetation can be threatened by (over)grazing, burning, extirpation of shrub for cultivation, global warming and urbanization. In the areas where it presents secondary vegetation it may be subject to succession towards forest.

The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:

• dense stands with presence of diagnostic species

• absence of tree species

• moderate grazing

• species richness

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats