EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

nary formation in parallel to the beech's
continuous expansion.
Th e association that has given rise to geophyte-rich
beech forests is a result of ecosystemary
continuity as well as the inner
functional and structural diff erentiation of
the development cycle of deciduous forests.
In this particular shape, it is without parallel
in the world.
Fungi
A multitude of fungi are involved in dead
wood decomposition, with a number of
species being specialised in the metabolisation
of specifi c wood types. Species typical
of the beech include Horse’s Hoof Fungus
(Fomes fomentarius), Neobulgaria pura,
Porcelain Fungus (Oudemansiella mucida),
which is indicative of extensive matured
wood pools, and Coral Tooth (Hericium coralloides),
which, although widespread throughout
the northern hemisphere and also
growing on other trees, is only found in very
old, mature beech forests.
An especially important symbiosis has evolved
between fungi and plants in the rhizo sphere,
which is called mycorrhiza. Unlike tropical
regions, forests of the temperate zone are
home to fungi that will enter into specifi c
symbioses with one or few tree species.
Fauna
While the beech itself is endemic to Europe,
there is only a limited number of species
that are exclusively bound to the beech (or
the beech forest), which is rather young
from an evolutionary perspective. Even so,
the beech forest, as the dominant biotope
by land area, is of particular relevance to
the European fauna. Th e Central European
beech forest is a reliable constant to its
inhabitants with their potential range of
distribution from the planar to the montane
altitudinal zone. Its habitats and structures
are available everywhere in suffi cient
diversity, or at least were before having
been impacted by human activity. Th e nominated
areas prove their outstanding signifi -
cance also here. Th e proposed forests show
a degree of structural and habitat continuity
and the specifi c biodiversity coming with it
that is scarcely found in the managed forests
of modern day Central Europe.
Th e diff erent beech forest types are home to
20% of the terrestrial fauna in Central
Europe – 7,000 to 10,000 animal species
(OTTO 1994) that have mostly adapted
their rhythm of life to the seasonal cycle.
Alongside with the plants, fungi, and microorganisms,
they are the determining factor
in the beech forest ecosystem.
2. DESCRIPTION
Geophytes in the nominated
component parts:
Each spring sees the development
of wood garlic (Allium ursinum)
carpet in Hainich.
Anemones (Anemone nemorosa
and A. ranunculoides) occur
in all nominated properties.
The geophyte-rich German
beech forests represent
an association that has no
parallel in the world.
The fungus populations in
the nominated German
component parts are evidence
of near-naturalness
and developmental potential.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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