A forest as natural heritage - Old beech forest as UNESCO Site in Germany

Old beech forests

Beech forest in Hainich National Park (Thuringia)

Since 2007, the old beech forests in Central Europe have been an official UNESCO natural heritage site. In 2011 five old German beech forests were added to the list. Germany is located in the centre of the beech distribution area. Such forests are (if the soil is not too dry or too moist) the typical forest form in Germany. 26% of all beeches worldwide grow in Germany. Only a few of these forests in Germany have been preserved in a more or less natural state - they are now listed as World Heritage. Old beech forests are characterised by a very high diversity of species - up to 10,000 different animal species have been identified. The natural heritage includes forests in several European countries - but the forests in Germany are special: they are the only lowland beech forests in the world that still exist. Part of this heritage lies in our federal state of Hesse - the Kellerwald. There 40% of the beeches are older than 120 years, some trees are even 260 years old.