European mountain vegetation faces accelerated extinction due to climate change

A study published in the journal Science, utilizing data from the GLORIA monitoring project, reveals that climate change is driving an accelerated extinction of specialist plant species on European mountain summits. While rising temperatures have allowed some generalist species to colonize higher altitudes—creating an appearance of increased biodiversity—this trend is displacing native alpine flora.

Research conducted across 62 summits in 16 European regions between 2001 and 2022 shows that high-altitude specialists are losing their competitive advantage. As warmer-climate plants move upward, they compete with indigenous species for space and resources. The most affected areas include the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada in Spain, and the Lefka Ori mountains in Crete, Greece.

Scientists note that because these high-altitude species are often long-lived and stress-tolerant, their extinction may occur with a significant delay following the initial climatic shifts. The study indicates that for every 0.1 degree Celsius increase in temperature, the proportion of local extinctions increases by 1.1% on summits and 1% at a regional level.