EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

100 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
The nominated component
parts, as an extension to
the existing World Natural
Heritage “Primeval Beech
Forests of the Carpathians”,
contain all elements pertaining
to the complete
illustration of the outstanding
universal value of
the ongoing ecological process
following the last
glacial period. They are the
best remnants at the heart
of beech forests distribution
in terms of complete and
comprehensive ecological
patterns.
Furthermore, they are exceptional
examples of
climax ecosystems under
human infl uence being
able to regenerate natural
structures and ecological
functions in the natural
balance and despite fragmentation
partly ending in
isolation, survived with its
longstanding habitat tradition
as well as structures
and processes typical for
original wilderness to the
present day within extensive
landscapes with a long
history of settlement and
land use.
beeches (Fagus sylvatica) as the primary tree to
form populations are found only on a relatively
small scale in the East Central European
and Southeast European regions
(Carpathians, Dinarides, Balkan) on the
eastern boundary of the beech forest habitat.
Th e integrity of the World Natural Heritage
“Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians”
is rooted in the history of forest development
and the intactness in terms of unbroken,
uninterfered dynamics that include all stages
of forest development and preserve biodiversity.
Still existing ancient beech forests in the
centre of beech distribution are mostly
relics, which aff ects in particular the natural
large animal fauna and highly specialised
dead wood inhabitants. Against this culturalhistorical
backdrop, the best old-growth
beech forests at the centre of beech distribution,
which are nominated as an extension
to the World Natural Heritage “Primeval
Beech Forests of the Carp athians” are of
high integrity. In the nominated component
parts, the utilisation and / or withdrawal
of biomass has already been suspended
several years or even decades ago,
allowing the accumulative function of the
ecosystems to proceed undisturbed by
human intervention, and all the more successfully
so as the areas are uninterrupted in
terms of forest continuity. Th eir structural
elements and population of plants, animals,
fungi, and micro-organisms show systemspecifi
c characteristics. Th e ongoing biological
and ecological processes take course
in open systems.
Completeness
Th e nominated German component parts
comprise the entire diversity off ered by
the beech landscapes in Central European
lowlands and downs. Integral natural components
include moors, fens, lakes, brooks,
seashores, stone runs, and rocks. In terms of
their varying in character according to altitudinal
levels, zonations, local and biogeographic
diff erences as well as typical animal
and plant species, the selected Central
European beech forests are to be regarded as
complete. Th e component parts, as an extension
to the existing World Natural Heritage
“Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians”,
contain all elements pertaining
to the complete illustration of the outstanding
universal value of the ongoing ecological
processes following the last glacial period.
Furthermore, the nominated component
parts are exceptional examples of climax
ecosystems under human infl uence being
able to regenerate natural structures and
ecological functions in the natural balance.
Notwithstanding vestiges of earlier interference,
the functional interconnections are
undisturbed due to currently ongoing
natural processes. From rejuvenation to degradation,
from the gap in the forest canopy
to the closed beech canopy, from the beech
sapling to the majestic giant tree, the entire
development cycle of natural beech forests
is found in each of the compo nent parts
and not lacking in any element. Owing to old
age and large surface area, the territories
show typical features of mature beech forests.
Wood-dwelling bugs are represented by
a host of relic species typical for primeval
forests and by an impressive number of
characteristic European forest species.
Area size
Th e serial property, which comprises representative
beech forests, is suffi ciently sized
to allow for the relevant processes required
in the long-term preservation of the ecosystems
and the biodiversity contained.
Th e variegated beech forest types are represented
across all altitudinal and trophic
levels. However, only a combination of the