The coniferous forest

This predominantly coniferous forest (fir, spruce, pine and larch) is an important part of the Alpine landscape. Such forests are both naturally-occuring and artificially planted but their purpose remains the same: to protect the soil from erosion.
The natural high-altitude spruce forest is a common habitat in the sub-alpine zone (between 1700 and 2400 m altitude) in the Northern Alps. It is home to many species of birds, including black and green woodpeckers and owls. Its dead wood is also home to many saproxylophagous insects, which feed on dead wood.