Alpine and subalpine calcareous grasslands represent one of the most species-rich
habitats in the Alps and Europe. For this reason, they are protected as a habitat under the
Natura 2000 network. However, they are increasingly threatened by human activity,
particularly recreation and the infrastructure required for it. Another important factor is
the abandonment of traditional land use – grazing, which is causing the upper forest line
to rise and the subalpine grasslands to shrink. On the other hand, the intensification of
grazing can also have a negative impact on the vegetation and soil of these grasslands.
They are also affected by climate change. In this work, we used geographic information
systems, field surveys of vegetation on selected grassland areas, and ecological statistical
methods to study the impact of certain environmental factors on high-mountain
grasslands in the central Kamniško-Savinjske Alps. We found that among the selected
environmental factors, altitude and soil depth have the strongest influence on the species
composition of the studied area. Altitude also has a significant influence on species
richness. The highest values of which were recorded at the transition from the subalpine
to the alpine belt. During our fieldwork, we also recorded many protected, endangered,
and endemic species, which indicates the importance of protecting and preserving this
natural area.
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