Temperate, lowland to montane base-rich inland cliff

This habitat type includes calcareous or base-rich rock faces and crevices in lowland to montane belts of European mountains in the temperate bioclimatic region.  Plant species growing on these rocks are adapted to extreme habitat conditions, such as strong solar radiation, a low water content, strong fluctuations in day/night and seasonal temperature, strong winds, absence of snow cover, and poorly developed soil. However, the conditions in lower altitudes are not as severe as in high altitudes (habitat H3.2b): radiation is lower, many species grow in more shady places, the fluctuation of temperature is not so extreme, and winds are less strong. Despite this, many endemic and rare species occur in these habitats. 

On more sunny rocks we can find communities of the order Potentilletalia caulescentis, namely in the Central and Easter Alps and Western Carpathians from the alliance Potentillion caulescentis and in the Southern Carpathians from the Micromerion pulegii. On more shady rocks communities from the order Violo biflorae-Cystopteridetalia alpinae appear, in the Southern Dinarides the alliance Edraianthion and in the rest of Europe the alliance Violo biflorae-Cystopteridion alpinae.

Indicators of quality:
Many endemic and legally protected species occur in this habitat. The main threats are air pollution, exploitation of limestone, intensive tourism (climbing), grazing, collecting of flowers, erosion, natural destruction of the rocks.
The following characteristics may be considered as indicators of good quality:
•    occurrence of natural erosion processes,
•    species richness of the cliffs and presence of the characteristic species,
•    presence of rare species at their typical frequency.

Synthesis of Red List assessment

Confidence in the assessment

Pressures and threats