The plant life in the Alps is changing rapidly due to climate change, with species migrating to higher elevations, new plants appearing, and others vanishing. The Flora Raetica project, led by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) and involving partner organizations and citizen scientists, is studying how these changes are affecting plant diversity in Graubünden, a region in eastern Switzerland. Researchers are comparing today's findings with botanical records from nearly a century ago to track long-term shifts in plant life. Christian Rixen, a botanist and co-leader of the project, is examining which species have appeared since the 1930s, which have disappeared, and how their distribution has changed across the region. Rixen is currently working in an area near Davos, at elevations between 2,400 and 2,500 meters (7,870 and 8,200 feet), where one of the project’s 1,104 "flash squares" is located. These are 100-by-100-meter (328-by-328-foot) plots that researchers visit one to three times to document the plant species present. Rixen and project coordinator Ingrid Jansen are recording their findings using a smartphone app, which helps them log species and their locations efficiently. At an elevation of 2,520 meters (8,270 feet), Rixen points out a tiny spruce sapling, only 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches) tall. He notes that this is unusual, as spruce trees typically do not grow at such high altitudes. Earlier in the day, he had also discovered three larches at 2,450 meters (8,040 feet), which is higher than their usual range. Rixen attributes these changes to rising temperatures, which have pushed the treeline up by around 400 meters (1,300 feet) over the past 50 years. By comparing current data with historical records, researchers can track how plant species have moved upward in elevation and whether new species are outcompeting existing ones at lower altitudes. Not all plants benefit from warmer conditions, Rixen explains, as many species are experiencing earlier autumns, which can disrupt their life cycles. The Flora Raetica project is a citizen science initiative that invites volunteers to assist with data collection. While some botanical knowledge is helpful, the InfoFlora app provides guidance for identifying plants. Many volunteers start with a trial outing before committing to ongoing participation. The project contributes to a larger effort called InfoFlora, which monitors plant diversity across Switzerland. By around 2:45 p.m., Rixen and Jansen complete their survey of the flash square. Rixen records the final plant identified—Soldanella pusilla, the dwarf snowbell—at 2:42 p.m. He then submits their findings via the smartphone app, noting that the data will be accessible in the system by the next day.