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 On the side of Seis, Völs and Tiers, Schlern is framed by mixed coniferous forests. The Forest of Hauenstein, siuated in the north-east of Seis, mainly consists of spruces, larches and, to a minor extent, also of Scots pines, firs, ashes, birches and mountain-ashes. The pond Völser Weiher is located inside the nature park and surrounded by Scots pine woods. The Scots pines cease to grow at an altitude of about 1,600 m. On the side of Völs, there are also cembra pines. The back of the Tschafon and Tschamin Valleys is covered with high lying forests of spruces, larches and Scots pines. The most secluded parts of these forests are densely covered with small berry-bearing shrubs and populated by capercaillies. Woodpeckers and owls can be found in the vicinity of old woods. Birds such as the crossbill and the willow tit are typical for the mountain forests surrounding the Schlern.
The Alpine Pastures and the Meadows of Tschapit
As can be deduced from legends and bog findings, Seiser Alm and the Schlern area have been completely covered with coniferous forests for several thousands of years. These forests reached an altitude of at least 2,200 m. They were partly cleared by the use of fire in order to obtain pastures, which now form a colorful mat of heath lands, meadows and various boggy areas. The spring bogs and the gutters of the rivulets provide a home for bird's eye primroses and butterworts as well as for different types of mosses, sedges, cotton grass and rush. Tourism and the use of fertilizers have seriously damaged the extraordinary flora of Seiser Alm.  In this area, purple saxifrages, crocuses, anemones and soldanels are amongst the earliest flowering plants. Alpine roses grow in areas where no grass is cut. Near the timber line, black game can be seen. The Alpine choughs often fly close to the refuges when looking for food. Through the building of cottages, man even contributed to the spreading of some single species, like the black redstart and the ermine.
The Dolomite Rocks and the Debris Cirques
 The peaks and rocks of the Schlern massif towered above the firn even during the period of maximal ice age glaciation. That is why some plants, the so called endemites, were able to survive the glacial period. Such was the case with Moretti's Harebell and with the devil's claw. Typical representatives  of the flora of Schlern are also the Vitaliana primuliflora , Facchini's saxifrage, the Dolomite androsace and the mountain thrift. Herds of twenty or more chamoises can often be observed in the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park . Golden eagles build their eyries in the park. Alpine choughs, common ravens, rockswallows and Alpine swifts also nest in the rock faces of Schlern. |
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