EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Kellerwald Hainich
beech wood that will now emerge, or the next
generation of saplings will close the void
within a period of a few years. Th e beech
once again forms the upper crown canopy
later on, thus resetting the cycle, which has
been described as the small development
cycle (ZUKRIGL et al. 1963). In the wake
of major disruptions, however, the cycle
may also involve the formation of an early
successional forest made up of pioneer
species such as pines, birches, goat willows
or rowans, which is later on infi ltrated by
medium-shade and shade tree species.
Th is big successional cycle may take several
decades longer than the small one. Variations
incorporating elements of both big and
small cycle are possible (fi g. 2.6).
Th is endogenous cycle of development meets
with the diversity of sites resulting from
the glacial and postglacial periods, producing
the considerable structural variety as
a basis for the species-rich, complex system.
Serrahn
Jasmund
Grumsin
Trophic levels Oligo-mesotraphent (Meso)-eutraphent
Primeval Beech Forests
of the Carpathians
Rooted in the beech’s enormous ecological
plasticity, the high ecological stability
results in a biodiversity-promoting continuity
of the forest’s character, which makes
the dynamics of the beech forest persistently
“predictable” for the forest dwellers.
Old beech forests are, for example, home
to a multitude of fl ightless ground beetles
that would drop the ability to fl y due to
the habitat being continuously available or
chang ing only at a small scale (WINTER
2005).
Th e nominated component parts show a
broad range of possible forest development
stages from rejuvenation to decay. Th e
regenerative capacity and cycle of the forest
are particularly manifest at Jasmund's
dynamic seashore. In Kellerwald, the endogenous
dynamics, together with the border
forest setting, is especially apparent in
the hillside and hilltop forests with their
primeval forest-like character.
2. DESCRIPTION
Fig. 2.5: Zonation of European
beech forests according to soil
trophic levels in oligotraphent
to mesotraphent and (meso-)
eutraphent forms (according to
BOHN et al. 2000, from BOHN
& GOLLUB 2007), including
position of the nominated component
parts and the Carpathian
World Natural Heritage.
European beech forests
show a unique natural
dynamism dominated by
the beech. The German
component parts represent
the entire gamut of forest
development stages from
growth to decay.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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