EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Justifi cation
Proposed Statement on Outstanding
Universal Value
Th e “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”
represent, in an outstanding manner, the
undisturbed biological and ecological processes
of the evolution and development
of beech forests as a terrestrial ecosystem
that has shaped an entire continent in
a unique way. Together with the World
Natural Heritage “Primeval Beech Forests
of the Carpathians”, the “Ancient Beech
Forests of Germany” tell a comprehensive
and concise tale of how the post-glacial
forests have been developing in Europe.
Th ere is no other tree species in the world
to play such a dominant and unique role
in the zone of nemoral deciduous forests as
Fagus sylvatica; it is the only tree species
to shape the appearance and life to such an
extent as is the case in natural beech forests.
Th e World Natural Heritage “Primeval
Beech Forests of the Carpathians”, which
is limited to the Carpathians spatially,
is extended by the nominated property
“Ancient Beech Forests of Germany” to
complement the best beech forests from the
seashores to the low mountains as important
representatives of the biogeographic region
of the “Central European and Baltic Beech
Forests” and the core zone of beech distribution
with its ecosystemary evolu tion,
which has been in progress since the last
ice age. Th e nominated German component
parts are indispensable to understanding
the history of postglacial re-colonisation and
ecosystem development with a high evo lutionary
diversity in terms of:
Ecosystem evolution
Consecutively initiated from south to north,
old forest habitats have been undergoing a
development into extremely diff erentiated
beech forest landscapes for some 6,000 years.
Geographic and local diversity
From planar to submontane, from nutrientpoor
acidic to nutrient-rich alkaline, from
dry to moder ately moist, from Pleistocene
sands and slate up to lime stone – the nominated
component parts present an outstanding
geographical and local diversity.
Morphological diversity
Wind blasted shrubs on shorelines, compact
dwarf types in rocky locations, tall-growing
trees with pillar-like trunks and mighty tops
mark the natural spectrum.
System-internal diversity
Beech forest ecosystems are characterised
by specifi c regenerative cycles and high ecological
stability.
Ecological diversity
Th e uniqueness of the Fagus sylvatica ecosystems
is highlighted by maximum ecological
diff erentiation and diversity of niches.
Th e fi ve nominated component parts are
home to in excess of 50% of all European
forest species of herbaceous plants, grasses,
shrubs, and trees, consequently making
them the characteristic beech forest fl ora.
Complexity of the ecosystems
Th e ecological structures and processes
found in Central European beech forest
landscapes are represented under various
climatic and edaphic starting conditions.
Habitats which have been sculpted by
water such as shores, lakes, rivers and moors,
but also dry and rocky locations are intimately
associated with the beech forests.
Germany is the heartland of the global
natural range of the European beech forest.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
SUMMARY
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