EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

114 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
At present, there are no
developments to be made
out that might have a
negative impact on the
beech forests in the nominated
component parts
and their integrity.
The beech forests of the
nominated component
parts are not threatened
by natural disasters.
ii) Environmental pressure
Th ere is no known environmental pressure
signifi cantly jeopardising the beech forests
contained in the nominated component
parts. Neither is the existence of the beech
forests threatened by climate change.
Exceeding 650 mm, the annual amount of
precipitation in the territories of Jasmund,
Kellerwald, and Hainich are far from
the beech’s aridity limit (about 450 mm).
Precipitation in Serrahn (589 mm) and
Grumsin (532 mm) is lower indeed, and continuing
aridity during the vegetation period
might be detrimental to the beeches' vitality;
however, the existence as beech forest with
its biodiversity is not threatened. A study
(MANTHEY et al. 2007) has revealed
that Fagus sylvatica most defi nitely is, under
all climatic conditions relevant to the
Fagus genus, the most competitive in comparison
with all other Fagus species.
Fagus sylvatica’s climatic amplitude is such
that it will not be maxed out by the climate
changes.
Being an integral part of the more recent
forest development in Central Europe, the
atmospheric element input from anthropogenic
sources (predominantly agriculture,
industry, the energy sector, and traffi c)
have been impacting the growth of forests
in Central Europe since the very fi rst days
of industrialisation. Element input is
found to exceed the critical loads for acids
and / or nitrogen in 89% and 94% of the
deciduous woodland in Germany. Th e critical
loads represent threshold values which,
provided they are complied with, will
not evoke an ecosystemary response that is
bound to cause long-lasting alterations
to the present state according to currently
available information. Element input is
currently dominated by nitrogen compounds,
which also holds true for acid deposition.
Relevant quantities of sulphur compounds
will not fi nd their way into the forest eco-
systems any more thanks to a successful
air pollution control policy.
Despite their being located remote from
industrial and traffi c sources, the nominated
component parts are yet impacted by acidifying
and eutraphent developments. All
of the fi ve territories show exceedances of
the critical loads. However, no profound
deleterious eff ects on the beech stands resulting
from element input have so far been
observed in the nominated component
parts. Th e nominated beech forests are not
assumed to be in acute peril, for beech
ecosystems are considered to be rather stable
in terms of nitrogen deposition, and are
suffi ciently buff ered against acid deposition.
Th e European air pollution control policy
in force is expected to entail a further reduction
in the emission of pollutants and
nitrogen in particular, which is thought
to bring about an additional improvement
of the load situation in natural and nearnatural
terrestrial ecosystems in Germany.
Game density (especially red deer and wild
boar) is high in each of the fi ve component
parts. Hoofed game is part of the natural
species spectrum of the beech forests within
the extension nomination. However, increased
game densities locally result in
damage to rejuvenation stands, consequently
impacting the occurrence, growth, and
tree species diversity of the rejuvenation
stands. An effi cient game management has
been established to address this issue (see
management plan). Moreover, with the
moufl on and fallow deer, there are animal
species that are alien to the Central European
beech forest. Th ey are intended to
be removed or substantially reduced in the
medium term.