EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

92 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
Fagus sylvatica is found
exclusively in Europe.
The development and
expansion of beech forests,
which started after the last
glacial period, is in full
swing only in Europe and,
in its diversifi cation, is
characterised by the
dominant species Fagus
sylvatica.
Jiuzhaigou valley scenic and historic
interest area
(China, area 72,000 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1992)
Th is protected area is located in the Szechuan
upland and is shaped by temperate conifer
and deciduous forests. Th e level of aff orestation
is approx. 65%. In Jiuzhaigou,
there are protected pristine conifer forests
and two bamboo species serving as an
important food source to the giant panda
(Ailuropoda melanoleuca). More accurate
data on the vegetation is not available;
however, the fl ora roughly corresponds to
the fl ora in the Huanglong scenic and
historic interest area. Th ere are no Fagus
species.
Mount Emei / Leshan Giant Buddah
(China, area 15,400 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1996)
Th e Mt. Emei protected area is shaped by
fi ve vegetation levels; vegetation coverage
amounts to 87 %, 52% of which being woodlands.
At levels below 1,500 m, the vege tation
is dominated by subtropical inde ciduous
forests, with indeciduous and deciduous
mixed forests and mixed coni f erous / nonconiferous
forests being typical at higher
levels. Above 2,800 m, there are subalpine
coniferous forests and shrubbery. Th ese
forests are home to over 3,200 plant species,
accounting for 10% of the Chinese fl ora.
Th ere are no Fagus species.
Mount Huangshan
(China, area 15,400 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1990)
Beside the Huangshan Oak (Quercus
stewardii), deciduous forests are also populated
by a Fagus species – Fagus engleriana –
that reaches a mere 20 m and is mostly
multi-stemmed. Huangshan is home to
en demic vegetation foms covering up to
approx. 56% of the protected area. Below
a level of 800 m, the vegetation is shaped
by the Massons Pine (Pinus massoniana)
together with the Huangshan Pine (Pinus
hwang shanensis). Th e latter is found at levels
between 600 m and 1,100 above sea level.
Above 1,100 m, there are deciduous forests.
Fagus engleriana is not found as a dominant
mixed tree species here.
Shirakami Sanchi
(Japan, area 16,139 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1993)
Beside the “Primeval Beech Forests of the
Carpathians” the Japanese World Natural
Heritage is the only World Natural Heritage
site owing its outstanding signifi cance to
a Fagus species. It comprises the last pristine
populations of Fagus crenata, which is endemic
to Japan.
Th e protected area is situated in the northwest
of Honshu Island, North Japan.
F. crenata is restricted to montane habitats
with a humid-cool climate and heavy snowfall
during winter months.
Starting from the areas of retreat of the last
ice age, F. crenata reached its current refuge
approx. 8,000 years ago. In the course of
time, a forest community has evolved which
is rather rich in species as compared to
Europe. Th ere is an estimated 500 plant
species with many of which being endemic
to the region. Th is results in the ecosystems,
which are furthermore limited to
montane zones, being of diff erent composition
then the European beech forests.
For example, an understorey is frequently
formed by the dwarf bamboo (ARCHI-
BOLD 1995).