EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

compo nent parts will be able to illustrate
the ongoing ecological process after the last
ice age with all of its facets and diversity of
habitats and species.
Th e area sizes of the individual nominated
component parts also meet certain minimum
requirements. With areas ranging from
several hundred to more than one thousand
hectares, they are capable of represen ta tively
and, for the most part, completely illustrating
the typical forms and natural dynamic
processes of Central European beech forest
ecosystems as well as cushion ing them
against external infl uences. Plausible minimum
sizes to protect the fl ora and vegetation,
developmental stages, and forest habitats
are 30 – 40 (100) ha (e.g. KORPEL 1995), so
that this criterion is met. Th e actual sizes
of the component parts will moreover guarantee
suffi ciently dimensioned minimum
populations of the characteristic zoocoenoses,
from the soil fauna and arthropods through
small and medium-sized mammals up to
most bird species (SCHERZINGER 1996).
Together with the buff er zones and the
surrounding densely wooded or extensively
used landscapes which they are embedded
in, the nominated component parts are in
an outstanding initial situation to empha sise
and safeguard the existing integ rity of the
nominated property of the Central European
beech forests. Th e buff er zones are all subject
to similarly strict protection requirements
and a coordinated management.
With the exception of Jasmund, the needs
of large mammals, predators, and individual
large birds as well as migrating animal
species requiring large territories and complex
landscape-ecological interrelationships
can also be catered to in the context of the
large-scale surrounding woodlands.
Adverse eff ects of development
and / or negligence
Th ere are no known serious eff ects that
might neglect, impact, or destroy the
property (cf. chapter 4).
Management
Management of the nominated component
parts is coordinated and executed by the
protected area administrations. All territories
are subject to strict protection on a permanent
legal basis following the internation ally
applicable IUCN categories. Th e management
is comprehensively outlined in the
management plan. Th eir protection concepts
ensure any direct human infl uence and
exploitation of the area to be permanently
ruled out also in the long-term future. Th e
component parts are character ised by low
fragmentation as well as a high networking,
buff ering, and developmental potential.
3. JUSTIFICATION FOR INSCRIPTION
The Hainich National Park
contains the largest free-of-use
deciduous forest preserve in
Germany.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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