Difference between forest and primeval forest
What is a "primeval forest"?
A primeval forest (also known as a primary forest) is a natural forest composed of native tree species that has remained untouched by human intervention. In such forests, ecological processes occur without disturbances, and they exist in their original state.
In Germany, true primeval forests no longer exist. However, some areas, like the Grumsin Beech Forest, have been left undisturbed for long periods and are now undergoing natural regeneration, resembling primeval conditions.
In contrast, the term “forest” today typically refers to managed forest areas, known as commercial forests, where wood is regularly harvested for human use.
The beech forest of Grumsin on its way to becoming a "primeval forest"
The Grumsin Beech Forest has the potential to develop into a natural forest. It has been left untouched since 1990, leading to notable features such as a high proportion of deadwood, many old trees, and a variety of microhabitats (tree structures that provide habitats for numerous species of animals, plants, and fungi). This process is creating a “secondary primeval forest”, as the forest increasingly displays characteristics of a natural ecosystem.
Developmental processes can already be observed that are rarely found in managed forests, such as the dying and breaking of tree crowns, the decomposition of tree trunks by fungi, the accumulation of tree cavities, and the tilting of trees. While the Grumsin Beech Forest is gradually returning to a more natural state, the Carpathians are home to true primeval forests that have remained untouched by human intervention. They are among the first beech forests to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, and are the cornerstone of this serial World Heritage site in Europe.
For more information about beech forests in Ukraine, weltnaturerbe-buchenwaelder.de.
