EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

NOMINATION DOSSIER ANNEX 7.3.1
"ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
I. Introduction
Preamble
The following “Integrated Management System” is the existing and approved Integrated
Management Plan of the inscribed World Heritage Property “Primeval Beech Forests of
the Carpathians” with additions reflecting the nomination of the German component parts
and adjustments according to the recent status of an inscribed site.
It is the result of an intensive international cooperation first during the nomination phase
between the Ukraine and the Slovak Republic and later between the latter named countries
and Germany for the German extension nomination.
General Vision
The aim is to preserve and protect globally unique and outstanding parts of the beech forests
(Fagus sylvatica) in Central Europe, especially in consideration of significant on-going ecological
and biological processes in the evolution and development of Fagus sylvatica forests
ecosystems and communities of their plants and animals. With the extension nomination
achieves Germany an important contribution to the preservation of a site of outstanding universal
value.
The integrated management system (hereinafter referred to as IMS) for the serial nomination
“Primeval Beech forests of the Carpathians” shall not be seen as a closed document. In the
course of time it will be updated, adjusted and corrected if necessary in the process of its implementation
so as to meet its pre-defined objectives. In case of the extension of the World
Heritage Property “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians” by the nominated German
component parts the Integrated Management Plan for the “Primeval Beech Forests of the
Carpathians” will be changed into the Integrated Management System for the entire World
Heritage property. Additionally, we consider the IMS as a tool for the transfer of the knowledge
acquired by scientific methods into the real world of nature conservation and for both
identification and implementation of steps and measures aimed at maintaining a long-term integrity
of nominated localities. It is understood that the IMS quality and implementation efficiency
depends on the support of the involved stakeholders and parties. Such support can
be achieved by a combined approach based on explanatory work, identifications of potential
benefits for the involved entities and ways how to materialise those benefits without compromising
the natural values and their integrity but instead by drawing on them, and on the
legal instruments.
The management is based on scientific results from research on virgin and old growth forests
and the various interactions between them and society with all their relevant components.
Because a continuous improvement of primeval forests protection and management depends
on a public support mobilisation, all inhabitants, opinion leaders and decision makers have to
be sensitized over this issue through activities such as awareness raising, education and
lobbying. An important role is played here by environmental ethics and justice. In this field
the IMS has incorporated the experience and expertise of ACANAP 1 that has been promoting
the adaptive management of primeval forests and biodiversity in the Carpathians as well
as opportunities for exchange of management, research and monitoring experience and for
creation of a harmonic relationship between people and nature in the Carpathians.
The assortment of the German component parts, nominated for the extension of the Slovakian-Ukrainian
World Heritage Property, is based on a profound research activity. It represents
a common approach, an agreed consistent monitoring program as well as common
experience on fundamental organisational and planning aspects. The German component
parts are already under a strict legal protection (four National Parks and one part of a core
1 Association of the Carpathian National Parks and Reserves
2