Unit 6 - Forest Regions & Functions

Lesson 3: Banff's Montane Forest


In Lesson 1 of this unit, you looked at the different forest regions of Canada. 
In the next 4 lessons, you will take a closer look at the ecology of this montane forest region.


Many of us who reside in Alberta may have had the great privilege of visiting Banff National Park. It lies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and features

  • rugged mountains
  • vast forests
  • ice fields
  • glacial lakes
  • mineral hot springs
  • canyons
  • rivers

Three distinct regions occur here: montane, subalpine, and alpine.

  • The montane zone begins in the sheltered river valleys and extends to an elevation of about 1500 m.

  • The subalpine forests begin where the montane forests stop, climbing up the mountain slopes to a height of 2200 m.

  • At elevations higher than the subalpine, we find the tree-less alpine zone, which is a landscape of bare rock, snow and ice, and alpine meadows.



                                  Map of the ecoregions of Banff National Park
                                                    © Parks Canada





Visitors to Banff National Park probably spend most of their time in the montane region because this region contains roads, trails, facilities, and the townsite itself.

Covering less than 3% of the total area of the park, the montane forest ecosystem is preferred wildlife habitat, supporting many more plants and animals than the surrounding areas.