Treeline studies are often motivated by the general assumption that cold distribution limits of the lifeform tree represent a universal biogeographic margin that is particularly sensitive to recent global warming. But the existing body of scientific literature is less consistent and raises more questions than it provides answers. Not only is the rate of treeline advancement in response to rising temperatures poorly understood, but interactions between biotic and abiotic drivers of treeline dynamics, as well as ecological mechanisms behind surprisingly stable treeline positions also remain unclear.