The Alps – one of the last remaining areas with truly wild places in central Europe – are remote. They are breathtaking. They are beautiful. They are one of the last strongholds of nature.
Forming a massive arc from Nice to Vienna, the Alps are also one of the largest and highest mountain ranges in the world. Dynamic natural processes continuously reshape the landscape and are the driving force for biological diversity.
But even the mightiest alpine peaks are not safe from the effects of global warming and climate change.
Alpine and nationale boundaries
Mountain wilderness
Towering over Europe, the Alps represent one of the continent's last wild spaces.
Despite centuries of human settlement and activity, pristine wilderness can still be found throughout the region.
Oak, beach, ash and maple forests continue to dominate large areas. Wild flowers blanket many alpine meadows.
Red deer, ibex, chamoix, marmots and other species can be found climbing high up in the mountains. And large carnivores – wolf, bear and lynx – are slowly returning after almost being totally wiped out from hunting.
Despite centuries of human settlement and activity, pristine wilderness can still be found throughout the region.
Oak, beach, ash and maple forests continue to dominate large areas. Wild flowers blanket many alpine meadows.
Red deer, ibex, chamoix, marmots and other species can be found climbing high up in the mountains. And large carnivores – wolf, bear and lynx – are slowly returning after almost being totally wiped out from hunting.
Aletsch glacier, Swiss Alps.
Fragile Environment
The Alps face a number of major threats – from habitat loss to pollution, from mass tourism to the impacts of climate change.
WWF works for the protection of the Alps at the national level through its national offices, and at international level through its European Alpine Programme.
The global conservation organization is also a strong supporter of the EU's Convention on the Protection of the Alps, which aims to preserve the Alps' natural environment through conservation and sustainable development.
The global conservation organization is also a strong supporter of the EU's Convention on the Protection of the Alps, which aims to preserve the Alps' natural environment through conservation and sustainable development.
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum).
There are about 110 bearded vultures in the Alps. Swiss National Park, Graubünden, Switzerland.
