Regime shift on the roof of the world: Alpine meadows converting to shrublands in the southern Himalayas

► We reconstructed alpine change from 1950 to 2009 in northwest Yunnan, China. ► From 1990 to 2009, 39% of the alpine meadows converted to woody shrubs. ► Patterns of change suggest that a catastrophic regime shift is occurring. ► Shrub encroachment was driven by climate change, fire restrictions, and grazing. ► This regime shift threatens both endemic meadow biodiversity and local livelihoods.