Global Warming

Global warming drives plants to higher altitudes

Significantly more plant species are growing on mountain tops today than 100 years ago. This trend is linked to global warming, Swiss scientists have helped demonstrate for the first time.

Researchers from 11 countries, including from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), analysed plant surveys taken from 302 European mountain summits in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, and in Scotland and Scandinavia. They compared their results with data on vegetation going back 145 years.

Global warming is enabling more and more thermophilic species (which thrive in higher temperatures) to push up into regions of higher altitude, where they were unable to survive in the past. These species include arnica, alpine meadow grass, alpine dandelion, and cranberry bushes.

While the thought of blossoming mountain tops might be welcomed by some people, the WSL points to potential negative consequences of increased biodiversity. These plants are larger and thus more competitive than traditional summit species, which are therefore in danger of being forced out in the longer term.