afroalpine

Afroalpine refers to the high-elevation, tropical African ecosystems that occur on the continent's major volcanic and fault-block mountains where the climate is cool and conditions resemble alpine zones in temperate regions. It lies above the treeline in East Africa and typically extends from roughly 2,700–3,000 meters to the upper limits of mountain summits above 4,000 meters, depending on latitude and local climate. Afroalpine habitats are found in mountain ranges such as Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mount Kenya, the Rwenzori and Virunga mountains (Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda), and the Ethiopian Highlands, including the Bale and Simien ranges.

Ecologically, afroalpine zones are characterized by frost-prone environments, strong winds, and frequent mist or cloud immersion with short, intense growing seasons. The flora is adapted to cold soils and high UV exposure, including giant rosette plants such as Dendrosenecio species and towering Lobelia species, cushion and tussock grasses, mosses, and lichens. Fauna is specialized for high elevations and reduced vegetation, with small mammals and birds that exploit the microhabitats among rock outcrops, though vertebrate diversity is limited compared with lower elevations.

Conservation concerns center on climate change, which pushes suitable habitat to higher elevations and can shrink afroalpine areas; grazing, fire, and land-use changes also threaten fragile plant communities. Much of the afroalpine in East Africa lies within protected areas such as Kilimanjaro National Park, Mount Kenya National Reserve, and Ethiopia's Bale and Simien national parks. The ecosystem is of interest for biodiversity research and climate-change monitoring and is a growing focus of ecotourism management.