EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

32 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
Fig. 2.4: Climatic zonation of
Europe (according to WALTER
et al. 1975, modified in BOHN
et al. 2004), including position
of the nominated component
parts and the World Natural
Heritage Site “Primeval Beech
Forests of the Carpathians”
IV-V
V
III IV
IX IX
VIII-IX
IX-VIII X
VIII-VI
oc
V-VI
fr
X
IV fr
VI-V
oc
VI-V
IV-III
IV
1000 km
VI-VIII oc
content, which has given rise to (meso-)eutraphent
beech forests (as is also the case in
Grumsin), while Serrahn and Kellerwald are
dominated by oligotraphent to mesotraphent
beech forests. Th e Carpathian beech
forests rank among the (meso-)eutraphent
forms (fi g. 2.5). Again, trophic levels will refl
ect in diff erent phytosociological units and
the appurtenant fl oristic species inventories.
oc
V-IV V-VI
IV-VII
V
IV
III-IV
VI
oc
VII
Position of the nominated component parts Position of the Carpathian World Natural Heritage
Key:
III subtropic arid zone with desert vegetation
IV typical Mediterranean climate with Mediterranean sclerophyllous vegetation
V warm temperate climate − deciduous broad-leaf forests with non-deciduous understorey
VI typical temperate climate − deciduous mesophytic broad-leaf forests
VII (semihumid)-semiarid temperate climate of the continental regions − real steppes, desert steppes, with cold winters
VIII boreal climate zone − boreal coniferous forests, birch forests in the oceanic region
IX arctic climate zone − tundra, polar deserts
X alpine climates − altitudinal zonation of the vegetation typical of respective region
The types show smooth transitions that are designated using the appropriate Roman numeral combinations,
e.g. V-VI, V(IV). The first numeral designates the predominant type in each case.
X
X
IV-VI
IV
VI
IV
VI
VI-VIII
VII a
VIII
VI
IV
VI-VII
VI-IV
VIII
VIII co
VI-VII
IV
IX
VI-VIII
Signifi cant ecological characteristics
Th e European natural beech forests stand
out due to a highly peculiar natural dynamism
which is determined by the cycle of growth
and decay of one single tree species, which
is the beech. Old beech stands will regenerate
with the crowns of individual trees
grad ually dying back to allow more light to
the ground. Either there already is young
X
IV-VI
VII-IV
V
VI-