The Alps conifer and mixed forests are a type of temperate coniferous forest found in central Europe. This region spans parts of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia. It covers the lower slopes of the Alps all the way to their peaks, including Mont Blanc, which is 4,809 meters (15,778 feet) high and the tallest mountain in the Alps.
The forests of the Alps are located in an area where two climate zones meet: the Mediterranean climate of southern Europe and the more humid, temperate climate of western, central, and northern Europe.
Flora
The ecoregion's range of elevations and its position between Europe's different climate areas allow many types of plants and species to live there. The ecoregion is home to 4,500 native vascular plant species, 400 of which are found nowhere else in the world.
On the lower slopes, forests are mainly made up of deciduous broadleaf trees, such as oaks like Quercus robur, Quercus petraea, and Quercus pubescens. In southern valleys near areas with Mediterranean climates, broadleaf sclerophyllous evergreen trees grow.
Montane forests have a mix of conifer trees, including Norway spruce (Picea abies), Silver fir (Abies alba), and mountain pine (Pinus mugo), along with broadleaf deciduous trees like European beech (Fagus sylvatica), aspen (Populus tremula), silver birch (Betula pendula), and downy birch (Betula pubescens). In areas with more continental climates, European larch (Larix decidua), arolla pine (Pinus cembra), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) replace Pinus mugo. Scots pine and Pinus mugo can sometimes hybridize to form Pinus × rhaetica. Black pine (Pinus nigra) grows on some south-facing slopes in the eastern part of the range.
Above the tree line, subalpine and alpine plant communities, such as heath and alpine tundra, are found. These areas include many species that are unique to the region.
Fauna
The Alps are home to 80 species of mammals. Some of the larger mammals found in the Alps are the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos), Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), wolf (Canis lupus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).
The Alps are home to 200 bird species, such as the lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus crassirostris), and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta).
Protected areas
Forty thousand, four hundred seventy kilometers, or 27%, of the ecoregion is located in protected areas. One-third of the land that is not protected still has forests. These 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.