A new study using satellite data and genetic analysis shows mountain biodiversity is shrinking fast. In Greece, iconic medicinal plants like Sideritis are losing genetic diversity due to warming and land-use change. Scientists warn this may increase extinction risks in already fragile ecosystems.

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• Mountain greening reduces open grassland, hurting low-growing native plants
• Sideritis, key medicinal and cultural plant, losing genetic diversity in 8 of 11 Greek ranges
• Some regions show 20% of genome with inbreeding signs
• Shrub and tree spread directly linked to plant gene erosion
• Genetic diversity loss lowers resilience to drought, disease, and climate shifts
• Researchers combined 50 years of satellite data with herbarium samples
• Remote sensing helps predict genetic trends via vegetation density
• Study shows value of historical plant collections for modern genetics
• Method could scale globally to track biodiversity in remote regions
• Experts call for urgent conservation of high-risk mountain habitats