Research & monitoring
Management of World Heritage beech forests in Europe
With 93 component parts across 18 countries, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe” is the largest serial World Heritage Site worldwide. Managing such an extensive heritage site across many nations requires a unified decision-making body. This body, the Joint Management Committee (JMC), consists of representatives from all 18 countries and meets at least once annually to discuss central issues.
The JMC approves extensions to the serial World Heritage Site, formulates and adopts shared objectives in the “Declaration of Intent”, and organizes periodic reports to UNESCO, such as through the Periodic Reports. It also prepares State of Conservation (SOC) reports to address specific issues.
Beyond these responsibilities, the JMC establishes guidelines for the site’s management to meet UNESCO’s requirements and preserve the beech forests for future generations. The committee develops shared strategies, discusses challenges, and celebrates achievements.
The JMC facilitates crucial information exchange among the 18 nations and fosters cohesion between participants. It stands as a symbol of international collaboration and understanding.
More information about the international collaboration for the World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe” can be found here.
Management of World Heritage Beech Forests in Germany
On a national level, coordination is handled by the Federal-State Steering Group, led by the Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und Klimaschutz des Landes Brandenburg, based in Potsdam.
Research, monitoring, and management of the Grumsin Beech Forest
The Buchenwald Grumsin World Heritage component site is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin, which also oversees area management.
Biosphere reserves aim to protect diverse landscapes and develop sustainable management practices that preserve biodiversity and essential resources.
They are divided into various zones: In the core area, genetic diversity, animals, plants, ecosystems and landscapes develop without human intervention. As a rule, the core area is home to the greatest diversity. In the buffer zone, the focus is on sustainable management with particularly nature-friendly agriculture and forestry, as well as ecologically oriented nature experience (path requirement). The transition area is used for sustainable and exemplary management.
By organising research projects and long-term environmental monitoring, the differences between untouched, model-managed, and conventionally managed areas are studied. Long-term changes, such as climate trends or species loss, are tracked, enabling adaptive management practices.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Grumsin Beech Forest is the largest core area in the biosphere reserve, enabling the undisturbed development of a lowland beech forest to be observed. An environmental monitoring programme, coordinated with the other World Heritage Sites, is being carried out to document the processes. This includes the careful documentation of tree growth, the accumulation of deadwood, the development of the plant cover and changes in the composition of tree species. Since these processes take place very slowly, it is sufficient to take measurements every 10 years. However, annual monitoring is conducted for developments such as the presence of wildcats or woodpeckers at selected locations. Research activities are designed to avoid disturbing natural processes.
For inquiries about research and monitoring, please contact the Biosphärenreservat Schorfheide-Chorin, Research and Monitoring Department.
The management plan for the FFH area “Grumsiner Forst / Redernswalde”, in which the Grumsin beech forest is embedded, is publicly accessible.
