Tree Line Shift in the Olympus Mountain (Greece) and Climate Change

Research on Mount Olympus, Greece, reveals a significant upward shift in the tree line within the protected Olympus National Park core, directly linked to rising temperatures during the growing season. This finding underscores the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems, even in long-standing protected areas established since 1938. The study analyzed GIS data on forest cover alongside climate change trends, demonstrating that forest expansion and tree line movement are driven by warmer conditions. These results provide critical evidence for the broader relationship between temperature increases and upward tree line shifts, contributing to global discussions on climate change's effects on biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Zindros, A., Radoglou, K., Milios, E., & Kitikidou, K. (2020). Tree Line Shift in the Olympus Mountain (Greece) and Climate Change. Forests, 11(9), 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11090985