Temperate subalpine Larix, Pinus cembra and Pinus uncinata woodland

This habitat consist of coniferous woodlands of the mid sub-alpine belt in high mountains of the temperate zone, forming the tree-line at 1,500 m Asl and above in the Carpathians and reaching 2,400 m Asl in the Alps and the Pyrenees. At these altitudes, the growing season is becoming so short and cold that the limit for tree growth is approached. Snow is long-lasting but not deep enough to favour willow shrub and tall-herb vegetation. Pinus uncinata can also be found in lower mountain ranges (such as Jura) on clifs or rocks exposed to harsh weather conditions. In the Pyrenees Mountains, only Pinus uncinata woodlands can be found. Depending on the habitat variant, the main dominant trees can be Larch (Larix decidua), Arolla pine (P. Cembra) and/or Mountain Pine (Pinus uncinata). Larch and Arolla pine only occur in the Alps and the Carpathians. Larch is often dominant in pastured wood, and Arolla Pine in more mature stands. In the Southern Alps and the Carpathians, Mountain dwarf pine (P. mugo) is often in the understorey. Where this dwarf pine dominates towards the upper sub-alpine belt, the vegetation is included in F 2.4 subalpine shrub. Included are also perialpine river valleys with Pinus forests of Pinus mugo s.l. (erect forms including P. x rhaetica) and/ or Pinus uncinata as rare relict forests reaching lower altitudes in the alpine river valleys. Sorbus spp. are characteristic associates in the canopy with S. aucuparia, S. aria, S. mougeotii and S. chamaemespilus, often along with some Picea abies and Abies alba (never dominant). The woodland structure is often rather clustered, open and lightly shading but the part- or wholly-evergreen dwarf-shrubs typical beneath often grow so dense that herbs can be sparse. Among these dwarf-shrubs, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, V. uliginosum, Juniperus nana (= J. sibirica) occur throughout the range. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Cotoneaster integerrimus can be found on warmer slopes. Erica carnea occurs outside the higher Alps on northern slopes. Rhododendron spp. is more restricted: R. ferrugineum and R. hirsutum in various parts of the Alps and the former in the Pyrenees, R. myrtifolium in the Carpathians, together with Daphne oleoides. Where the cover of these dwarf-shrubs exceeds the trees and the tree cover becomes rather open, the vegetation is included in F2.2a Alpine and sub-alpine ericoid heath. These woodlands occur on a variety of rock types with different soils which, along with the contrasts in climate across the range, sustain a diversity of field layers, the distinctiveness of the flora increasing to the south. Graminoids are common and, in moist hollows and seepages, a contingent of montane tall-herbs is characteristic (Calamagrostis villosa, Luzula albida, L. sieberi, Festuca flavescens, F. drymaeia...). Subalpine and alpine plants such as Homogyne alpina or Dryas octopetala are also characteristic.

Indicators of quality:

• Tree-line at its natural limit with intact woodland structure.
• Sufficient structural diversity/ complexity (semi)natural age structure or completeness of layers.
• Presence of old trees and a variety of dead wood (lying and standing) and the associated flora, fauna and fungi.
• Typical flora and fauna composition of the region.
• Sufficient proportion of historically old (ancient) woodland with high species diversity.
• Survival of larger stands of forest without fragmentation and isolation.
• Absence of non-native tree species and absence of invasive aliens in all layers (fauna, flora).
• No signs of impacts of alpine pasturing.
• Absence of damage from trampling, skiing lanes and avalanches around winter sports centre.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats