EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

NOMINATION DOSSIER ANNEX 7.3.1
"ANCIENT BEECH FORESTS OF GERMANY"
2. Germany
In Germany, based on the federal structure, competences for nature protection are shared
between the federal and the states (Länder) level. The Federal Ministry for the Environment
is responsible for the legal framework, fixed in the "Federal Nature Conservation Act“ („hereinafter:
BNatSchG“) of 25. March 2002 (Federal Law Gazette (BGBl). I S. 1193), last
amended by article 3, 22. December 2008 (BGBl. I S. 2986). It serves as framework regulation
providing guidelines for the states and it implements EU-directives for nature protection
into national law. The enforcement of the federal law and of regulations is based on states
level. Each state enacted a „State Nature Conservation Act“ protecting the individual component
parts.
On the national level the “National Strategy on Biological Diversity” adopted by the federal
cabinet on the 7 November 2007 is an important strategy of the federal government encompassing
330 conservation objectives and 430 concrete actions for all biodiversity related topics.
It constitutes a comprehensive and ambitious strategy aiming at the implementation of
the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was ratified by Germany on the 21 December
1993 (Act concerning the Convention on Biological Diversity of 30 August 1993, BGBl. II No.
32, p. 1741 ff.). The strategy formulates a concrete vision for the future, and specifies quality
targets and action objectives for all biodiversity-related topics. The target deadlines are objectively
achievable, and range from the immediate term through to the year 2050. The action
objectives listed under the various sub-headings have been concretised in terms of specific
measures by government and non-government players. In the overall strategy, equal consideration
is given to ecological, economic and social aspects, in keeping with the guiding principle
of sustainability. In terms of forests-issues the following objectives are formulated:
• To conserve extensive, undissected forest areas
• To conserve and develop natural and near-natural forest communities
• To particularly conserve ancient woodlands, and to conserve and – where possible –
augment forest areas with conservation-relevant traditional usage forms by 2020
• To promote contract-based nature conservation in 10 % of the area of privatelyowned
forest land
• To develop a guideline strategy between the Federal Government and the State Governments
to incorporate biodiversity requirements into all publicly-owned forests by
2010, and to implement this strategy by 2020
• To define more clearly the legal principles of sustainable forest management by 2010
• To certify 80 % of woodland of high ecological standards by 2010
• To achieve a balanced ratio between forest rejuvenation and wildlife by 2020
• To adapt the forests to the challenges of climate change e.g. by cultivating mixed
stands with the highest possible diversity
• To uphold the Government’s undertaking not to use genetically modified organisms or
propagatable parts thereof which could pose a threat to forest ecosystems, with due
regard for the particular conditions of forest ecosystems. 2
The German component parts are under strict legal protection fixed in four National Park
regulations and one Biosphere Reserve regulation, all approved by the competent state ministries
(see Annex 5-5 – 5-9, nomination dossier). The German nature protection works in a
complementary way consisting of the federal law, the states laws and the legal regulations of
the protected areas themselves. According to these regulations a strict non-intervention
management applies to the nominated component parts 3 .
2
National Strategy on Biological Diversity, page 32
3
In the nominated component part “Kellerwald” remain two meadows under a special management
because of their importance for biodiversity.
6