What are mountains?

Mountain ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. Because the climate gets colder with elevation, the composition of the flora and fauna depends on elevation. As such, bands or zones of similar vegetation can be distinguished at similar elevations. At moderate elevations forests dominate, while smaller plants are the only ones that endure the harsh conditions at high elevations. Ecosystems above the treeline are referred to as “alpine. The very highest regions of the alpine are permanently covered by snow and ice. 

A variety of ecosystems covered elsewhere in this handbook can occur in steep terrain, for example forests and lakes. Mountains can also include wetlands and mires, as well as cultural landscapes. Mountains in the Nordic countries are used extensively as grazing areas for reindeer, sheep and cattle.  

The Scandinavian mountains stretch from southern Norway to Northern Finland and include the western and northern parts of Sweden. Mountains up to an elevation of 880 meters above sea level are also found on the Faroe Islands.  

Mountains as nature-based solutions

Mountain ecosystems provide a wide range of ecosystem services and thereby contribute to many of the societal challenges.

  • Biodiversity enhancement: Mountains are habitats for many rare species. Due to global warming mountains are often the last places that species adapted to the cold can survive.
  • Climate change adaptation: Protection or restoration of wetlands in high elevations can contribute to carbon storage.
  • Disaster risk and preparedness: Intact vegetation in mountainous areas can also reduce the hazards of landslides and floods, reducing disaster risk.
  • Water management: Mountains are the source of a lot of our drinking water, so good management of water courses is essential to maintain this resource.
  • Food security: Many mountains in the Nordic countries are used for grazing, hunting and foraging for wild berries.

 

Mountain graphic: Before

Mountain ecosystem before NbS have been implemented

Mountain graphic: After

Mountain ecosystem after NbS have been implemented

 

Examples of NbS that can be implemented in mountains

  • Rewetting of mires: Former wetlands that have been drained for human activities are rewetted applying different types of NbS that restore the natural hydrology of the area. 

  • Floodplain reconnection: Floodplain can be reconnected to its surrounding by applying different types of NbS that reconnect the hydrological connectivity between the river and the floodplain. 

  • Maintaining grasslands and meadows is an important conservation measure for semi-natural and natural ecosystems in cultural landscapes in mountains. Particularly in many Nordic countries where domesticated livestock have summer grazing areas in the mountains. 

Are you unsure how to choose an NbS for a mountain ecosystem? See our general guidance on Nature-based solutions!  

This page has been written by Ruben E. Roos 

Von Humboldt, Alexander, and Aimé Bonpland. Essay on the Geography of Plants. University of Chicago Press, 2010. 

Körner, Christian. "Concepts in alpine plant ecology." Plants 12.14 (2023): 2666. 

Helseth, E.V., Eide, N.E., Hansen, B.B., Kvalnes, T., Roos, R.E., Rosvold, J., Rønning, B., Singsaas, F.T. & Mathiesen, K.E. 2023. Økosystemtenester frå villreinfjellet i Noreg. Ei vurdering basert på eksisterande datagrunnlag. NINA Rapport 2373. Norsk institutt for naturforskning.