Scandinavian montane birch forest and grasslands

The Scandinavian montane birch forests and grasslands is defined by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as a terrestrial tundra ecoregion in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The Scandinavian montane birch forests and grasslands is one of the Global 200 ecoregions as defined by WWF, and is thus regarded as a high priority for conservation.

About two-thirds of the ecoregion is located in Norway, about one-third in Sweden and a small area touches the northwesternmost part of Finland.

At the highest altitude is high alpine tundra with very modest vegetation and bare rock, scree, snowfields and glaciers.

At lower altitude is low alpine tundra with continuous plant cover; dwarf birch and willows up to 1 m tall and grasslands, as well as numerous lakes and bogs.

The map of this ecoregion used by WWF thus has a very large span in environmental conditions; from temperate forests to the highest mountains with glaciers and snowfields.

In addition to birch, the trees in this region include aspen, Scots pine, Juniperus communis, grey alder, rowan, goat willow and bird cherry.

The ecoregion's fauna includes predators like wolverine, brown bear, Eurasian lynx, grey wolf, red fox and stoat.

Balestrand near Sognefjord has a temperate climate (all months above 0 °C (32 °F). [ 3 ] Mountains nearby reach 1,400 m /4,600 ft with alpine tundra, glaciers and mean annual down to −2 °C (28 °F).
Alpine tundra near Alesjaure , northern Sweden
There is a large span in environmental conditions from the fjords to the mountains. Fall colors in the mid-boreal forest near the fjord while the mountains in Narvik Municipality reach up to high alpine tundra; Northern Norway .
Mountain birch near the treeline in Ljungdalen , Sweden
Some typical plants on the low alpine tundra in autumn
The Arctic fox is the most threatened mammal in the ecoregion.