EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Monitoring contents are therefore divided
into four spheres:
1. Determining the natural bases, species
and biotopes (inventory).
2. Permanent observation of natural
processes and alterations in the ecosystem,
natural forest development,
and its biocoenoses (monitoring).
3. Special scientifi c questions and projects
(special ecosystem research).
4. Social signifi cance of the national park,
visitor development and behaviour,
tourism-related issues (socio-economic
research).
Other fi elds of work include technical data
management, cooperation with other
national parks and research institutes, and
transfer of knowledge.
Since the time of their institution, there
have been well-established monitoring
systems in the territories to survey the most
important basic parameters. As for many
crucial indicators, the joint management
system therefore builds on these investiga-
tions (development of forest structures and
biocoenoses, climate, water and groundwater
quality, geologic processes, visitor
traffi c and others).
Inventories of the areas are almost completed.
Th ey serve as a starting point for further
monitoring. Monitoring the indicators,
which are characteristic of the outstanding
universal value, is performed based on
representative sample areas in the territories
applying a consistent methodology. Depending
on indicator variability, they are
determined on a daily or annual basis or,
following the period of Periodic Reporting,
at intervals of six or twelve years. More over,
extensive monitoring and research programmes
are conducted in all areas and are
carried out in collaboration with research
institutes, universities or specialised institutions
of the Länder.
Furthermore, the collection of biotic data
is also ensured by the obligations to undertake
surveillance and to report within
the scope of the Natura 2000 network (EU
Habitats and Birds Directive).
6. MONITORING
Nationale
Naturlandschaften
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