EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

128 NOMINATION DOSSIER "ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
There are explicit provisions
in place at all levels to
govern responsibilities in
the implementation of
the protective measures.
Specifi c instructions are
detailed in management
plans.
Implementation of the protective
measures in the individual component
parts
Having ratifi ed the World Heritage Convention,
Germany, as a signatory, has committed
to implement the regulations of the Convention.
Within the framework of Germany's
federal structure, the political subdivisions
of Bund, Länder, and municipalities undertake
to properly implement the provisions on
the management and protection of the
individual nominated component parts. Th e
responsibility for the concrete implementation
on location resides with the individual
protected area administrations. Th e Länder
ministries (competent authorities) responsible
for nature conservation act either
directly or through their respective regional
authorities. Th ere are explicit provisions to
govern responsibi lities at all levels.
Moreover, the higher and highest nature conservation
authorities exert supervisory control
over the lower authorities. Th e immediate
execution of the protective instruments
of the individual component parts is ensured
by the protected area administrations on
the basis of their capacities of public ad minis -
tration (see chapter 8b for a list of admin istrations).
Th e protected area administrations
are part of the administrative structure of the
Länder and representatives of public interest.
Th ey are – for the purpose of the
cooperation principle – involved in the decision-making
processes of other depart ments.
Th e protected area administrations moreover
implement the spatial and land scape
framework plans and are committed to
environmental education to enhance public
acceptance and understanding of the contents
of the protective measures. Th e direct
responsibility to implement the provisions
contained in the laws and ordinances on
national parks lies with the national park
authorities of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,
Hesse, and Th uringia. Th e biosphere
reserve administration is integrated in the
Environmental Authority (LUA: Landesumweltamt)
of Brandenburg and is performed
by the non-profi t registered organisation
“Kulturlandschaft Uckermark e. V.” (see
also chapter 5.a).
Th e protected area administrations are
– according to the respective Land – assisted
by a nature conservation watch consisting
of voluntary and non-governmental
organi sations (see also chapters 5.g and 5.j).
Th e management plans (national park plans,
maintenance and development plan in the
biosphere reserve, tab. 5.2), which have been
prepared with broad public involvement, issue
tangible instructions on management and
protection and are directly binding for the
protected area administrations. Th ere are
detailed plans relating to the administration
of each area. Th e plans (tab. 5.2) guarantee
the areas to be protected and, among
others, govern in detail the fi elds of visitor
management, forest manage ment, wildlife
management, risk management, public
relations, and bio diversity conservation. Th ey
are evalu ated and updated by the protected
area administrations on an ongoing basis.
Supervision in the component parts is invariably
ensured by trained personnel on the
basis of set service schedules. Such personnel
will have the power of a public authority and
is authorised to use appropriate legal means
to guarantee the compliance with the protection
provisions in force.
Th e protected area administrations are
backed by advisory boards that serve the
purpose of reconciling the interests of
the diff erent stakeholders within the area
and support the activities of the national
park administration in the respective region.
Th e advisory boards will discuss the goals
and current projects of the national park
adminis trations, fathom solutions to pro-