EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

The beech forests with an admixture of coniferous species Abies alba and Picea abies
have remained as undisturbed relict ones in the north-eastern part of the cluster (Luzhanka
River basin) due to its colder climate. Some fragments of the relict Picea abies forests with an
admixture mixture of Betula pendula are present on these rocks.
Within the “Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh” cluster 725 species of the Vascular Plants grow. 27
of them (viz., Listera ovata, Platanthera bifolia, Erytronium dens-canis, Atropa belladonna,
etc.) are included into the “Red Book of Ukraine” (1996), and two species (Pulmonaria
filarszkyana and Silene dubia) into the “European Red List” (1992). Within 160 moss species
the most characteristic ones are Sphagnum acutifolium and Polytrichum commune, as well as
Hookeria lucens, and lichenes (ca. 180 sp.) from Cladonia, Cetraria, also Lobaria
pulmonaria and Usnea florida, algae (ca. 140 sp.) and fungi (ca. 100 sp) Clavariadelphus
pistillaris, Mutinus caninus, Amanita caesarea (all of them included into the “Red Book of
Ukraine”).
Biota (animal world)
The fauna of beech virgin forests in this cluster is rich. Animal species usual for the
Carpathians occur here together with the species regarded as rare or unique. The ungulates
Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Sus scrofa are usual dwellers of this site, and
carnivores Vulpes vulpes, Martes martes, Putorius putorius are usual here too. Beech virgin
forests are a shelter for the rare mammals: Lynx lynx, Ursus arctos, Mustela erminea, M.
lutreola, Meles meles, Neomys anomalus, and Sorex alpinus (54 sp. all in all). Being very
rare, Felis silvestris is a permanent dweller of this territory. Fauna of Cheiroptera is very rich
too, and most Cheiroptera species live in carst caves. Within 20 species of bats occuring here,
8 species are regarded as the unique and endangered. The winter colonies of Cheiroptera
hibernating in local karst caves are probably the most numerous in Europe.
A large number of old hollow tree-trunks is a characteristic feature of this site, and they
shelter a lot of animals (viz., Myotis bechsteinii, Nyctalus leisleri), as well as birds nesting in
hollows (viz., Strix uralensis, Aegolius funereus, Glaucidium passerinum, etc.), and also all
the species of woodpeckers usual for the deciduous biome.
Buteo buteo, Cinclus cinclus, Corvus corax, Turdus merula, Columba oenas,
Troglodytes troglodytes, Bubo bubo and other birds occur here too (ca. 100 sp.), together with
woodpeckers Dendrocopos medius, D. leucotos, Picus canus and others. Within this cluster
one to two couples of Ciconia nigra nest every year, and it is well known that they can nest
only in the virgin forest, without any human intrusion.
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