Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

Geobox|Building
name = Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
category = UNESCO World Heritage Site


image_caption =Stužica primaveral forest
official_name =
etymology =
nickname =


symbol =
country = SVK and UKR
country_

state =
region = Prešov and Zakarpattia
district =
municipality =
location =
prominence =
lat_d =49 | lat_m =5 | lat_s =10 | lat_NS =N
long_d =22 | long_m =32 | long_s =10 | long_EW =E
length =
width =
height =
depth =
volume =
area = 29279 | area_unit = ha
whs_name =Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
whs_year =2007
whs_number =1133
whs_region =Europe and North America
whs_criteria =ix
iucn_category =Nature
free = | free_type =


symbol =
country = SVK and UKR
country_

state =
region = Prešov and Zakarpattia
district =
municipality =
location =
prominence =
lat_d =49 | lat_m =5 | lat_s =10 | lat_NS =N
long_d =22 | long_m =32 | long_s =10 | long_EW =E
length =
width =
height =
depth =
volume =
area = 29279 | area_unit = ha
whs_name =Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
whs_year =2007
whs_number =1133
whs_region =Europe and North America
whs_criteria =ix
iucn_category =Nature
free = | free_type =

---

map_caption = Bukovské vrchy
map_background = Slovakia - background map.png map_locator =Slovakia
map1 = Prešov Region - outline map.svg
map1_caption = Bukovské vrchy
map1_background = Prešov Region - background map.png map1_locator = Prešov Region
commons =
website =
footnotes =

The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathian, an outstanding example of undisturbed, complex temperate forests, constitute a transnational serial property of ten separate components (6 in Ukraine and 4 in Slovakia) along a 185 km axis from the Rakhiv Mountains and the Chornohirskyi Range in Ukraine, west along the Polonynian Ridge, to the Bukovské vrchy and Vihorlat Mountains in Slovakia. They contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of beech and many species associated with, and dependent on, these forest habitats. They are also an outstanding example of the recolonization and development of terrestrial ecosystems and communities after the last Ice Age, a process which is still ongoing.

Outstanding Universal Value

These forests exhibit the most complete and comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure stands of European beech across a variety of environmental conditions. The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians are indispensable to understanding the history and evolution of the genus Fagus, which, given its wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and its ecological importance, is globally significant. These undisturbed, complex temperate beech forests are one of the most important elements of forests in the Temperate Broad-leaf Forest Biome.

The individual components of this serial property are of sufficient size to maintain the natural processes necessary for the long-term ecological viability of the property's habitats and ecosystems. Effective implementation of the integrated management plan is required to guide the planning and management of this serial property. Key management issues include forest fire control and conservation of monumental old trees, conservation and management of mountain meadows, river corridors and freshwater ecosystems, tourism management, research, and monitoring.

Besides Havešová, Rožok, and Stužica (all of them being located in Bukovské vrchy) there is a fourth component situated in Slovakia, namely Kyjovský prales of Vihorlat. Ukrainian locations include Chornohora, Kuziy-Trybushany, Maramarosh, Stuzhytsia–Uzhok, Svydovets, and Uholka–Shyrikyi Luh. However, only few of ten components are accessible for visitors. Stužica is for example the only one of three locations in Bukovske vrchy (Slovakia) with available hiking trails.

Most of the Slovak components of the world heritage site are situated in the Poloniny National Park at the easternmost and also the least populated part of the country. National Park was created on 1 October 1997 with a protected area of 298.05 km² and a buffer zone of 109.73 km².

Gallery

Resources

*cite web
url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1133
title = Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
accessdate = 2008-09-28
work = UNESCO World Heritage Centre