EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Association
with forest*1
Verifi ed European forest types
Lowlands Highlands
Code Jasmund Serrahn Grumsin Hainich Kellerwald
Potential
European forest types
Lowlands Highlands Total
high 1 22 7 17 30 25 64 62 77
notable 2 9 6 14 28 20 40 47 52
slight 3 8 10 22 56 44 58 84 68
weak 4 0 1 6 32 13 32 71 68
Sum 39 24 59 146 103*3 194 264 265
European species*² 20% 12% 30% 55% 39% 73% 99.6%
Flora
Th e European beech forests show a decline
in vascular plant species numbers from
the glacial refuges in Southern Europe to the
north and north west, in which directions
they were advanc ing. Th eir centres of diversity
lie in the Eastern Carpathians, Dinaric Alps,
and Pyreneans (DIERSCHKE & BOHN
2004). Th e particular evolutionary connection
clearly refl ects in the entire Central
European fl ora. For example, 265 forest
species of the lowland and highland
(SCHMIDT et al. 2003) have a marked
focus of distribution in Europe (chorology
of MEUSEL et al. 1965, 1978, 1992). Of
these species, 264 are found in the highland
forests, and 194 of the lowland forests (tab.
2.2).
Th e fi ve component parts together house
over two-third (171) of forest species with
80 – 100% of their global distribution concentrated
in Europe. Moreover, their beech
forest fl ora is representative of 7 out of
the 16 area types that are typical of Central
Europe (MEUSEL & JÄGER 1992). Th e
Fagus sylvatica type is persistently found,
hallmarks of which being the occur rence of
Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea, and Melica
unifl ora (fi g. 2.7).
With regard to the herb layer, the nominated
beech forests are largely characterised by
species – with focus in Europe – regardless
of the geographical position and nutrient
supply. With 146 European forest species,
Hainich shows an extraordinary wealth
of European forest species and may consequently
be regarded as prototypic of basophilic
European beech forests. Jasmund
also boasts distinct geophyte forests. Among
the geophytes, Kidneywort (Hepatica nobilis)
belongs to the European species for example.
Th e White Wood-rush (Luzula luzuloides)
is the indicator plant of acidophilous beech
forests, and is also eponymous for the
Luzulo-Fagetum forest community (fi g. 2.8).
With Luzula luzuloides und Fagus sylvatica,
two of the prime fl oristic structural components
in Kellerwald are hence endemic to
Europe and, at the same time, are manifestations
of the unique natural inventory in
Central Europe.
Preliminary investigations suggest that also
the cryptogam fl ora appears to be relevant
in diagnosing mature deciduous forests.
Old growth indicator species among mosses
and lichen are found specifi cally associated
with phenomena of maturity, special habitat
structures, and certain substrates such
as rough bark or dead wood. Rarities and
natu ral forest specialists detected in Kellerwald
for instance, among hundreds of
species, include the two natural forest indicators
Gyalecta fl otowii (recovery in Germany)
and Megalaria laureri.
2. DESCRIPTION
Tab. 2.2: Forest species with
main distribution range in
Europe
*1 according to Schmidt et al.
2003
*2 Jasmund, Serrahn, Grumsin
with reference to 194, Hainich
and Kellerwald to 264 species
with focus of distribution in
Europe; percentages in the “Lowlands”
and “Highlands” columns
refer to 265 European species
*3 with Anthericum liliago,
Corydalis cava, Corydalis solida,
Festuca heterophylla, Inula conyza,
there are forest species in Kellerwald’s
buff er zone on the periphery
of the component part which might
also occur within the nominated
property
The German component
parts combinedly house
over two-third of the forest
species with global distribution
concentrated in
Europe.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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