EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

96 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
Name of property Country Form Protection status
Jasmund* Germany CE / p national park
Serrahn* Germany CE / p national park
Grumsin* Germany CE / p biosphere reserve
Hainich* Germany CE / c-sm national park
Kellerwald* Germany CE / c-sm national park
Bavarian Forest Germany CE / m-am national park
Palatinate Forest Germany CE / c-sm biosphere reserve
Steigerwald Germany CE / c-sm Natura 2000 area
Hochspessart Germany CE / c-sm Natura 2000 area
Sihlwald Switzerland CE / sm Natura 2000 area
Dürrenstein Austria alp (marginal
Alps)
biosphere reserve
Cevennes France W / c-sm national park
Pyrénées Occidentale France W / m-am national park
Ordesa-Mt. Perdido Spain W / m national park
Covadonga Spain W / m-am national park
Forest Casentinesi Italy Med / m national park
Abruzzi Italy Med / m national park
Gargano Italy Med / m national park
Central Balkan Bulgaria IDB / m-am national park
Plitvice Croatia IDB / m-am national park
Risnjak Croatia IDB / m-am national park
Sutjeska Bosnia-Herzegovina IDB / m-am national park
Carpathians** Ukraine C / m-am biosphere reserve
Western
Carpathians**
Slovakia C / m-am national park
Semenic Romania C / m national park
Tab. 3.5: Significant European
beech forests (adapted from
Plachter et al. 2007)
(CE = Central European region,
W = West European-Atlantic
region,
Med = Mediterranean region,
IDB = Illyric-Dinaric-Balkan
region,
C = Carpathian region,
Alp = Alpic region,
p = planar,
c = colline,
sm = submontane,
m = montane,
am = altomontane
* German extension nomination;
** including Carpathian World
Heritage area)
Pirin National Park
(Bulgaria, area 40,060 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1983, criteria vii, viii, ix)
60% of the total area is covered by the
park’s forests, with the largest fraction being
mixed conifer forests of the altomontane
zone. At the montane level, there are also
fi r-beech forests with Fagus sylvatica that are
notably diff erent from the pure beech
forests on the nominated component parts
with their planar to submontane altitudinal
types. Moreover, they are characterised by
a high portion of relic and endemic species.
Dominating species at the timber line are
the Bosnian Pine (Pinus heldreichii) and
Macedonian Pine (Pinus peuce). Individual
Pinus leucodermis populations are up to
500 years old, while others are 45 m high.
Th e subalpine zone is dominated by Pinus
mugo thickets.
Durmitor National Park
(Montenegro, area 32,000 ha, World Natural
Heritage since 1980, criteria vii, viii, x)
Th e canyon of the Tara River is Europe’s
deepest chasm. Th e primeval forests of
Mlinski are among the primary factors for
the park's protection status, covering
50% of the park area and being composed
of deciduous forests, conifer forests, subalpine
and alpine mats. Dumitor boasts one
of the last primeval pine forests in Europe,
while the beech (Fagus sylvatica) plays is
only of secondary importance as a mixed
tree species.
Mont Perdu
(France and Spain, area 31,189 ha, World
Natural Heritage, mixed site, since 1997,
criteria vii, viii)
Located in the Central Pyrenees, the World
Natural Heritage runs along the Spanish-
French frontier area in the limestone massif
of Mont Perdu. Th e northern portion with
an area of 11,055 ha lies in France, while the
southern part with its 20,134 ha is located
in Spain. Altitudinal zones range from
600 m in the “Midi Pyrénées” region up to
3,352 m to the mountain ranges around
Monte Perdido / Mont Perdu. Five vegetation
types have been described for the domain.
Submediterranean vegetation is mostly
found in the southern valleys. Th e colline
type is dominated by sessile oaks, while
montane mixed forests are formed by Fagus
sylvatica and Abies alba in montane zones.
Th e vegetation of the subalpine level is
determined by Pinus uncinata, Vicia argen tea,