Palaearctic vegetation

The Palaearctic realm, encompassing Europe and Asia north of the Himalayas, features diverse vegetation zones shaped by climate and human activity. In the far north, tundra vegetation of lichens and mosses gives way to the boreal forest, or taiga, dominated by conifers and hardy deciduous trees like birch. Further south, mixed forests, once extensive, have been significantly altered by human land use. Southern Europe exhibits Mediterranean vegetation with evergreen trees and shrubs. Arid regions across Asia, such as the Karakum Desert, support xerophytic plants, while steppe grasslands are found in drier continental interiors. Human impact, particularly agriculture and grazing, has drastically reshaped many of these natural landscapes.12