EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

World Natural
Heritage
Criterion
for inscription
Justifi cation of the “outstanding universal values”
Great Smokey Mountains, USA vii, viii, ix, x outstanding Arcto-Tertiary geofl ora era
Huanglong scenic and historic
interest areas, China
Jiuzhaigou valley scenic and
historic interest area, China
Mount Emei / Leshan
Giant Buddah, China
vii Huanglong valley includes the easternmost of all the Chinese glaciers with a
mountain landscape, diverse forest ecosystems and spectacular limestone formations,
waterfalls and hot springs. Huanglong houses the giant panda and the
Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey.
vii It superb landscapes are particularly interesting for their series of narrow conic
karst land forms and spectacular waterfalls.
iv, vi, x Mt. Emei is of exceptional cultural signifi cance, since it is the place where
Buddhism fi rst became established on Chinese territory and from where it
spread widely throughout the east. It is also an area of natural beauty and known
for its high plant species diversity with a large number of endemic species.
Mount Huangshan, China ii, vii, x Huangshan is well known in art and literature during a good part of Chinese
history. Today it holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters and
photo graphers who come on pilgrimage to the site with magnifi cent scenery
of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds.
Shirakami-Sanchi,
Japan
World Natural Heritage properties
in deciduous forests regions outside
of Europe
(Source: Natural site datasheet from
World Conservation Monitoring Centre,
www.unep-wcmc.org)
Great Smokey Mountains
(USA, area 209,000 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1983)
Th ere are two World Heritage Sites in the
nemoral deciduous forest regions in eastern
North America. Th e Mammoth Cave
National Park has been inscribed as a pala eontologic
fi nd spot, and the Great Smokey
Mountains National Park as the last primeval
forest range in eastern North America.
Th e lower altitudinal belts are dominated by
oak species and the higher ones by conifer
species. Of particular note is a ravine
forest, comprising 20 diff erent species of
deciduous trees and conifers. Th e Canadian
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is mainly
found in the low to middle altitudinal belts
and is associated with Red Spruce (Picea
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION
ix The trackless site includes the last virgin remains of the cool-temperate forest
of Siebold’s beech trees that once covered the hills and mountain slopes of
northern Japan.
rubens) at 1,500 m and above. Th e park's
high altitude areas form the largest coherent
range of virtually pristine Picea rubens
populations. Being a mixed tree species,
Fagus grandifolia is found throughout, albeit
at low proportions.
Huanglong scenic and historic interest
areas
(China, area 60,000 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1992)
Huanglong is situated within the transition
zone between the eastern wetland forests
and the montane conifer woodland of the
Jing Zang plateau. Some 65% of the area
are covered by forests. Mixed forest, which
is dominated by Chinese Hemlock (Tsuga
chinensis), Dragon Spruce (Picea aspertata)
and maple species, is found at altitudes
from 1,700 m to 2,300 m. At levels between
2,300 m and 3,600 m, forests are mostly
shaped by conifers and show subalpine characteristics.
Th is zone is followed by alpine
mats, snow, and granite at above 3,600 m.
Th ere are no Fagus species.
Tab. 3.2: World Natural Heritage
properties in deciduous forest
regions outside of Europe
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
91