Country

Åland: one ecoregion. Each with its climate now and toward 2050, and its conservation tier.

A single ecoregion covers Åland: the Sarmatic mixed forests, the broad temperate broadleaf and mixed forest system of the northern Baltic. On these islands it takes a distinctly maritime form, with the surrounding sea moderating the Nordic climate, softening winter lows and stretching the season compared to the nearby mainland. The Sarmatic pattern mixes conifers with hardy broadleaves, and Åland's gardens follow suit: cold-hardy deciduous trees, spring bulbs, and northern fruit culture all sit comfortably here, and the archipelago's mild-for-the-latitude conditions have long made it good orchard country by Nordic standards. Thin soils over bedrock and exposure to sea wind are the practical constraints, so sheltered pockets and soil building matter more than hardiness ratings. The ecoregion's Nature Could Recover tier leaves room for native woodland planting.