| Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe | |
| Map: | File:Ecoregion PA1006.png |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Map Alt: | Ecoregion territory (in purple) |
| Country: | India |
| Country1: | China |
| Country2: | Afghanistan |
| Country3: | Pakistan |
| Border: | Pamir alpine desert and tundra |
| Border1: | North Tibetan Plateau-Kunlun Mountains and alpine desert |
| Border2: | Central Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe |
| Border3: | Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows |
| Border4: | Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows |
| Border5: | Paropamisus xeric woodlands |
| Bird Species: | 172[1] |
| Mammal Species: | 45 |
| Habitat Loss: | 1.4065 |
| Protected: | 18.28 |
| Area: | 143300 |
| Biome: | Montane grasslands and shrublands |
The Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion found in parts of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, and India.
The Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe is an area of high-elevation grasslands covering 143300sqkm. It is centered on the Karakoram Range, west of the Himalaya Range. It also includes nearby ranges, such as the Ladakh Range.
The mean annual precipitation in the ecoregion varies from 200mm900mm, 90 percent in the form of snow.
Most of this ecoregion consists of grasslands and herbaceous plants. Protected slopes and ravines contains Salix denticulata, Mertensia tibetica, Potentilla desertorum, Juniperus polycarpus, Polygonum viviparum, Berberis pachyacantha, Rosa webbiana, and Spiraea lycoides. Where vegetation ceases to grow, around 4500m (14,800feet), are found Delphinium cashmerianum, Glechoma tibetica, Silene longicarpophora, Potentilla fruticosa, and Nepeta spp.
Shrublands and woodlands are found in valley bottoms. These include Hippophae rhamnoides, Myricaria elegans, Salix viminalis, Capparis spinosa, Tribulus terrestris, Pegamum harmala, Sophora alopecuroides, and Lycium ruthenicum. A few remnant steppe forests of Juniperus seravschanica and Juniperus indica are still found here.
Sheep in this ecoregion include the Marco Polo sheep, Tibetan argali, and urial. Goats include the markhor and ibex.
The sheep and goats, as well as smaller mammals, make this ecoregion excellent habitat for the snow leopard.
Both the brown bear and Himalayan black bear are found here.
Bird species richness is low. Common birds include Guldenstadt's redstart, Himalayan monal, rosefinches, raptors, and vultures.
Much of the montane habitat in this ecoregion lies in protected areas. These include