Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows
The Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion of the elevations of the northwestern Himalaya of China, India, and Pakistan. Setting. Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows cover at elevations between in the northwestern Himalayas. They are found in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir in northwestern India and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan in northern Pakistan. Flora. This ecoregion's flora is composed mostly of krummholz and herbaceous plants. Various rhododendrons live in the scrub habitat near timberline, as do junipers and birches. Although several species  of rhododendron are recorded in this ecoregion, they are represented by a lesser greater diversity than in the eastern Himalaya, where 60 species are reported in the Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. Genera of herbaceous plants include "Doronicum, Delphinium, Gentiana, Meconopsis, Pedicularis, Anemone, Aster, Polygonum, Primula", and "Mertensia". Scree habitats include "Caragana, Saxifraga, Draba", and "Gypsophila". Fauna. Eighty mammals species are reported in this ecoregion. It contains prime habitat for the snow leopard and the Tibetan wolf. Other mammals include the ibex, markhor, blue sheep, tahr, and Himalayan marmot. There are 172 bird species in this ecoregion. Important birds include  the lammergeier, golden eagle, Himalayan griffon vulture, snow partridge, Tibetan snowcock, and Himalayan snowcock. Conservation. This ecoregion is well preserved because of high elevation, difficult climate, and lack of trees. Protected areas include: