EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

LIST OF PROJECT WORK PACKAGES
AND ACTIONS
LIST OF PROJECT WORK PACKAGES AND ACTIONS
Work package 1:
Research of ecological demands of species as primeval forests patterns and dynamics indicators
Description:
The conservation of Carpathian primeval forests is not optimized specifically according the ecological demands of species. Under strong
fragmentation, the question of a minimum contiguous protected area that can sustain the species is of a paramount importance. From the
viewpoint of developmental independence of the trees layer, an area above 50 ha appears to suffice (Korpeº 1989, 1995), in particular in
countries like the Slovak Republic, because the populations of ungulates and their behaviour is checked by indigenous populations of big
predators, such as brown bear, wolf or lynx. But from the perspective of trophic networks, some authors propose areas of millions of hectars
(Schnitzler-Lenoble 2002). That however is not possible any more in the Temperate Zone of Europe, both because of land fragmentation
and economic reasons. It is therefore indispensable to investigate the ecological demands of indicator species bound to primeval
forests, mainly the xylobiotic ones, bird species nesting in trees cavities and others, in order to ensure their protection by creating connecting
corridors encompassing the primeval forests remnants, and also through the creating or restoring the respective habitats in all forests
categories.
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Action 1.1:
Creation of metadatabase of the biodiversity contained in the Carpathian primeval forests
Description of work: The metadatabase will be constructed based on biodiversity inventories conducted before in connection with the
nomination of primeval forests for inscription onto the List of World Natural Heritage UNESCO and provision of on-line access to all investigators
involved in the project. Advanced environment, Oracle database management system will be employed for this purpose.
Indicator: Biodiversity metadatabase
Milestones: • Database procurement finished 31. May 2007
• Database completion 30. September 2007
Action 1.2:
Selection of key species as primeval forests dynamics indicators
Description of work: Through the data mining, comparative analysis and advanced multidimensional statistical methods applied to data
available in the metadatabase set-up in Action 1.1, the key and most endangered species will be identified, for whose protection the
actions of work packages 4 and 5 will aim through protection, restoration and creation of biotopes. The selected species will at the same
time will serve as indicators of their status.
Indicator: Target list of 200 key and most endangered species
Milestones: • Target list posted on the project internet page 30. November 2007
Action 1.3:
Establishing the effect of genetic variability and site conditions on biometric parameters and vitality of ecosystem edificators
Description of work: The differences in growth performance and vitality of trees as ecosystem edificators, as well as in their responses
to management are determined by their genetic variability and site conditions. These differences and variability in main primeval forests
consituents, i. e. beech, oak, fir, spruce and noble hardwoods will be investigated based on DNA and isoenzymes analyses with the
aim to adjust and rectify the management of connecting corridors and forests of all categories, as planned in WP 4, WP 5, in which components
of natural dynamics will be incorporated, e. g. support of resistant populations in Action 1.4.