Why are Croatia’s karst plateaus largely barren at high elevations?

Croatia’s karst plateaus are largely barren at high elevations primarily due to their composition of limestone, which is a hallmark of karst topography.1

In these regions, the soluble nature of the bedrock leads to the development of a rugged, rocky landscape where surface water often drains rapidly into underground systems rather than remaining on the surface to support soil development and vegetation. While lower elevations in the central mountain belt are heavily forested, the highest elevations of these limestone plateaus lack the conditions necessary to sustain significant plant life, resulting in the characteristic barren, rocky terrain.231