This project evaluates monitoring data from all five German beech forests that are part of the European UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site >>Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe<<. This is the first comprehensive comparative analysis of these valuable forest areas, which have been part of the World Heritage Site since 2007. Ancient beech forests are unique worldwide because they spread rapidly across the European continent after the end of the last ice age. The process of expansion continues, but at the same time, climate change is having a noticeable negative impact on the vitality of beech trees in some sub-areas.

The aim of this project is to analyze ecosystem changes and the dynamics of the UNESCO beech forests. On this basis, concrete recommendations will be developed for both the continuation of systematic monitoring and the protection of these forests. The monitoring and evaluation of the data takes into account ecological, climatic, and socio-ecological issues.

Our partners and clients for this project

The project is being carried out in collaboration with agrathaer; the client is the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).