The human footprint on the mountains
The relationship between humans and mountains: impacts and sustainability.
Mountain Ecosystem
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Storymap
Vertical diversity
The extraordinary diversity of species and habitats in mountain environments, linked to the altitudinal gradient.
Points of interest
Parnassius apollo
The internationally protected species Parnassius apollo is a good indicator of the biodiversity of mountain butterflies. This large white butterfly with ...
Capra ibex
The Alpine ibex stands as a symbol of Gran Paradiso National Park. Threatened by extinction by the end of the 19th century due to intensive hunting, it ...
Marmota marmota
The Alpine marmot is a key species for the ecosystem of the Alps. It generally lives above the treeline, at a height of between 2000 and 3000 m, but also ...
Sempervivum montanum
This small plant’s Latin name (derived from semper meaning ‘always’ and vivo meaning ‘living’) is extremely apt since it is an outstanding example ...
Rupicapra rupicapra
The Alpine chamois one of the two representatives in Italy of the Rupicapra genus of the Bovidae family. Since it evolved in a mountainous environment, ...
Gypaetus barbatus
Until recently, this species, one of Europe’s most majestic vultures, was in danger of disappearing from the skies over the Alps. It is a large bird ...
The most commonly found and characteristic rock type inside Gran Paradiso National Park is a gneiss with striking whitish oval feldspar crystals forming ...
Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in the Palaearctic (Europe and Northern Asia) and Nearctic (North America). Found in variety of different ...
Carlo Barbante (National Research Council - CNR) explains how the international Ice Memory Project aims to preserve ice samples taken from mountains all ...