Corine Land Cover 2000 - Coniferous Forests

With an area of over 30% coniferous forests cover by far the greatest area in Tyrol. Larches and stone pine make up the upper forested level at approx. 2000 m (in the alpine fringes from approx. 1600 m) up to the natural tree line at approx. 2300 m. The level below them is the natural area of the spruces which are widespread throughout the alpine region and in the alpine fringes, above all at altitudes between 1400 and 1500 m as opposed to the Central Alps where they grow from the valleys to an altitude of 2000 m.

Forests comprising only fir trees still exist in the South Tyrolean Unterland. Pine trees are found mostly in the southern alpine areas as well as in nutrient-poor or dry soils. Forests consisting purely of larches are mostly a relic of their former use as forest pastures or hay meadows. There the shade-giving spruces were removed in order to create better grass-growing conditions.

Over the centuries-long use of the forests, the spruces replaced many other tree varieties, in particular pines and broad-leaved trees. In view of the future use of forests (also from an ecological viewpoint) attempts are now being made to plant more broad-leaved trees. Perhaps the most important function of forests in mountainous regions is to protect human settlements from natural disasters such as landslides and avalanches, Furthermore, forests also serve as recreational areas.

The upper level of the coniferous forests lies mostly below the possible climate altitude. To allow for the expansion of areas of mountain pastures, and to meet the local needs for wood, forests were already cleared hundreds of years ago which meant that the tree line (mainly larch and stone pine forests) was lowered by about 100 - 200 m. Through the letting up of alpine pastures in the last decades, areas of forest are gradually on the increase. So far these areas are only covered by bushes and dwarf shrubs, green alders or mountain pines.