Temperatures in the region have risen by nearly 3°C since 1950, making Antarctica warm faster than the global average and contributing to the transformation of its landscape.

Researchers warn that as plant life becomes more established and temperatures continue to rise, the extent of greening in the region is likely to increase further.

The primary plant life in the Antarctic Peninsula consists mainly of mosses, which thrive in the harsh conditions of this extreme environment.

Wetter conditions resulting from warmer open seas are facilitating the growth of these mosses, which can eventually lead to soil formation.

Future assessments of the region must consider localized effects, such as penguin colonies, which can influence vegetation trends through nutrient enrichment and trampling.

There are warnings that climate change could facilitate an influx of invasive species in the area due to the increased vegetation.

Antarctica, once predominantly covered in ice, is undergoing a significant greening trend attributed to climate change.

A recent study published in *Nature Geoscience* reveals that vegetation cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold from 1986 to 2021, expanding from less than one square kilometer to nearly 12 square kilometers.

This remarkable acceleration in vegetation growth, which has increased by over 30% since 2016, correlates with a decrease in sea-ice extent during the same period.

The researchers call for urgent further studies to explore the processes driving the greening trend and its implications for the Antarctic ecosystem.

The sensitivity of the Antarctic Peninsula's vegetation to climate change raises serious concerns about fundamental changes to the region's biology and landscape.

Dr. Thomas Roland, the study's lead author, emphasized the importance of understanding these ecological changes to protect the Antarctic Peninsula's environmental future.