Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

This transboundary property stretches over 12 countries. Since the end of the last Ice Age, European Beech has spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Mediterranean and Pyrenees over a short period of a few thousand years in a process that is still ongoing. The successful expansion across a whole continent is related to the tree’s adaptability and tolerance of different climatic, geographical and physical conditions.They represent an outstanding example of anthropogenically undisturbed, complex temperate forests and exhibit the most complete and comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure
and mixed stands of European beech across a variety of environmental conditions. With their 92,023.24 ha, they contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of beech and many species associated and dependent on these forest habitats.