EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

NOMINATION DOSSIER ANNEX 5.5
"ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
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In this context, an extension of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage "Primeval Beech Forests of
the Carpathians" in Ukraine and the Slovak Republic, which was established in 2007, by these German
parts is aimed at, that is to say, the proposed German beech forests are to extend the existing
Carpathian World Heritage site by a globally outstanding and unique example of ongoing ecological
processes. These forests are illustrative of the evolutionary wealth of biotopes and types of copper
beech forests in the focus of their global geographic range. The nominated areas represent the core
zones of said geographic range and cannot be substituted for with other territories in Central Europe's
deciduous forest zone.
In this, the Hessian nominated area "Kellerwald” is a representative of the colline and lower montane
silicate beech forest on acidic, nutrient-poor bedrock with embedded borderline habitats on rocks and
rocky slopes, complementing the coastal and planar beech forests of Jasmund, Müritz and Grumsin,
as well as Hainich, which is a beech forest on limestone. A forest complex of 1467 ha was designated
as nominated area in the national park that typifies, in context, the most characteristic and near-natural
old beech forest stands with their peculiar associated biotopes and two primeval forest relics on Edersee’s
steep slopes. In line with UNESCO requirements, the area is not subjected to exploitation or
management already at the present time; it offers major zones of retreat and is efficiently buffered
based on the national park's protective ordinance. As with the park itself, the World Heritage sites are
to be accessible to human experience, which is ensured based on the visitor management concept
and the national park’s existing path network.
The nominated area “Kellerwald” is situated within the boundaries of the Kellerwald-Edersee National
Park, and lies encompassed by a buffer zone made up of the remaining acreage of the national park.
Thus, both the legal status to secure the area and its management by the National Park Office are
already in place.
Relevant regulations are also contained in the National Park Plan.
In order to preserve the nominated area for future generations in accordance with the World Heritage
Convention, UNESCO calls for a funding basis secured in the long term to sustain the nominated areas
(e.g. management…). With the nominated area being part of the national park, budgetary funds
assigned to Kellerwald-Edersee in Chapter 09 60 Product No. 3 as appropriated from the state budget
of the federal state of Hesse are guaranteed to be available in the long run.
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