The site consists of “orographic islands” with high elevation vegetation in central Mediterranean basin, along the Apennines mountain range. Majella: 26 plots are in Majella National Park, 15 plots belonging to the world network GLORIA, placed along an elevation gradient between dwarf shrublands and tundra vegetation (2400-2700 m a.s.l.), 6 plots refer to the study of population biology of endangered taxa and other 5 plots, ranging from 2400 to 2600 m a.s.l., refer to soil monitoring. Matese: 10 plots in Matese mountains (1800-2000 m a.s.l.), included into the world network GLORIA, and characterised by high elevation grasslands.