EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Fagus mexicana
Fagus grandifolia
or sparsely settled regions with little infrastructure
(KNAPP et al. 2008). In contrast,
the Holarctic deciduous forest regions are
among the most densely populated areas in
the world, which are growth centres of
modern industrialised civilisations. It therefore
comes as no surprise that deciduous
forests have seen a massive displacement
during the history of settlement, with only
a few relics being found globally.
Th e current fl oristic discrepancies between
the Earth's major deciduous forest regions
are primarily a result of the Quarternary
climate change (WALTER & STRAKA
1970, LANG 1994). Th e conse quences of
glaciation turned out more extreme in
Europe than in North America (ARCHI-
BOLD 1995). Th e ice cover in Siberia or
in Central Asian mountain ranges was
comparatively less pronounced, resulting in
the forest coverage being fragmented to a
lesser extent than was the case in Europe
Fagus sylvatica
and North America. In glacial Japan, the
glaciers rose to an altitude of 2,700 metres
and above.
Europe
Being associated with the climate’s steadily
decreasing oceanity from west to the east,
the beech forest distribution in Europe is
bounded by climatic parameters. Th e beech
forests’ eastern and northern bound aries are
roughly correspondent to the distributions
limit of Fagus sylvatica, which is confronted
with increasing winter's cold (< –30°C)
in the east and north as well as with aridity
(annual precipitation < 500 mm) (c.f.
SCHRÖDER 1998). Beech forests with
F. sylvatica form the potential and partially
actual climax vegetation in Central Europe
with its oceanic to suboceanic characteristics.
In global comparison, F. sylvatica’s
absolute dominance should be emphasised,
which forms pure stands predominantly and
particularly in Central Europe.
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION
Fagus crenata
Fagus orientalis Fagus engleriana
Fagus chienii Fagus japonica
Fagus longipetiolata
Fagus lucida
Fagus hayatae
Fig. 3.3: Worldwide distribution
of 11 Fagus species throughout
the deciduous forests
(HOFFMANN & PANEK
2006)
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
89