EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

4.a.2 Serrahn
Status
Th e eastern subterritory of the Müritz
Na tional Park, Serrahn, spans 6,200 ha and
is covered with 4,500 ha of woodland,
1,300 ha of which being beech forests. Th e
forest aspect in Serrahn is found alternating
between rather closed overstorey zones,
two-layered areas, and mosaicked sections
with “cones of decay”. After having been
placed under protection, the beech forest
has regained its dynamics as a result of
regeneration and natural processes (KNAPP
& JESCHKE 1991, TABAKU 2000). All
developmental phases of lowland beech
forests are present (fi g. 4.1).
Th e core area is a 200-year old beech population
that has not been managed for 50 years.
It is characterised by extensive dead wood
volumes (up to 56 m³ / ha, in one subterritory
142 m 3 / ha, WINTER 2005) and a multitude
of micro-organisms (tab. 4.3). Th e
beech forests within the nominated component
part is to be considered as “high-grade
4. STATE OF CONSERVATION AND FACTORS AFFECTING THE PROPERTY
and near-natural” (SCHNEIDER 2008)
and, of all the forests in the Müritz National
Park, boast the highest ecological quality.
Particular mention deserve the following
indicator species of the component part:
Middle Spotted Woodpecker and Black
Woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius, Dryocopus
martius), Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas),
Hermit Beetle (Osmoderma eremita), and
the moth Schiff ermuelleria stroemella.
Trend
With almost 150 m³ of dead wood per ha,
the 70-ha plot in Serrahn, which has not
been managed for 50 years, already shows
high values. Owing to the strict non-intervention
policy that has been continuing for
decades as well as tree aging and wind impact,
the dead wood portion, albeit subject
to dynamic fl uctuations, will stay on a high
level in the long term.
In order to ensure the forest to rejuvenate
naturally, it is crucial to regulate the
hoofed game stocks, which has been initiated
within the management framework.
Fig. 4.1: Stages of forest development
in a part of Serrahn (from
WINTER 2005): Th e phases of
forest development are designated
following TABAKU 2000.
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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