Welcome to the information point of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site Grumsin Beech Forest - Brandenburg's only UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site!
The beech forest of Grumsin is located in the heart of the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve, about 80 kilometres northeast of Berlin. Since 2011, it has been part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe“ and Brandenburg’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This website represents the Info Point in Altkünkendorf at the Grumsin Beech Forest World Heritage Site.
At the information centre, visitors can learn more about the protection of this special forest and about the World Heritage Site.
Beech forests are Europe’s original wilderness. The red beech began to spread in Europe about 12,000 years ago and was the predominant tree species. However, as the demand for wood increased, the area covered by the trees shrank more and more. Beech trees can actually live to be 300 years old. However, for economic reasons they are “harvested” at the age of 120 to 160 years, so that really old beeches are now rare. Even though the red beech is not endangered as a species, natural beech forest stands, such as the Grumsin Beech Forest, are among the most threatened habitats.
The natural wonders of the Grumsin Beech Forest
The distinctive topography of the Grumsin Beech Forest, which was shaped by the last ice age, features numerous moors and small bodies of water in the dips. This combination of moors, lakes and beech trees is what makes the Grumsin Beech Forest World Heritage Site so unique. These different structures, along with a high proportion of old trees and standing and lying deadwood, form the basis for a great diversity of species, which must be preserved.
Visit the Grumsin Beech Forest World Heritage Site and start a hike from the Infopunkt in Altkünkendorf.
News about the Grumsin Beech Forest
This website is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Consumer Protection of the State of Brandenburg.
