The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is a world heritage site. First listed in 2007 and only including forests in Slovakia and Ukraine, it has been expanded in 2011 and 2017 and on both occasions its name was changed to reflect the extent of the site. As of 2017 it's made up of 78 forests in 12 countries around Central, Southern and Eastern Europe.

Trees can live to a hundred years old in these forests, providing an important habitat for organisms such as mushrooms, moss, lichen, insects, rare birds (e.g. capercaillie and black grouse) and mammals (e.g. bats, brown bear, wolf and lynx).

Understand

From being confined to mountain ranges, the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) has, thanks to its adaptability, spread across most of the continent since the end of the last Ice Age. Beech forests are much darker than for instance the boreal forests found further north; the dense trees prevent sunlight from reaching the ground and this also means less ground vegetation. Perhaps the signature forest of Central and Southeastern Europe, 92,023.24 ha of forests (not including buffer zones) make up this natural world heritage site.

Beech wood is valued for its strength and nearly white colour. Many beech forests have been cleared, or are used for industrial forestry.

Sites

Albania

• 1 Lumi i gashit. (updated Dec 2017)

• 2 Rrajca. (updated Dec 2017)

Austria

• 3 Dürrenstei. (updated Dec 2017)

• 4 Kalkalpen - Hintergebirg. (updated Dec 2017)

• 5 Kalkalpen - Bodinggraben. (updated Dec 2017)

• 6 Kalkalpen - Urlach. (updated Dec 2017)

• 7 Kalkalpen – Wilder Graben. (updated Dec 2017)

Belgium

• 8 Sonian Forest – Forest Reserve “Joseph Zwaenepoel”. (updated Dec 2017)

• 9 Sonian Forest – Grippensdelle A. (updated Dec 2017)

• 10 Sonian Forest - Grippensdelle B. (updated Dec 2017)

• 11 Sonian Forest – Réserve forestière du Ticton A. (updated Dec 2017)

• 12 Sonian Forest – Réserve forestière du Ticton B. (updated Dec 2017)

Bulgaria

• 13 Central Balkan – Boatin Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 14 Central Balkan - Tsarichina Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 15 Central Balkan – Kozya stena Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 16 Central Balkan – Steneto Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 17 Central Balkan – Stara reka Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

Dzhendema Reserve

• 18 Central Balkan - Dzhendema Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 19 Central Balkan – Severen Dzhendem Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 20 Central Balkan – Peeshti skali Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

• 21 Central Balkan – Sokolna Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

Croatia

• 22 Hajdučki i Rožanski kukovi. (updated Dec 2017)

• 23 Paklenica National Park - Suva draga-Klimenta. (updated Dec 2017)

• 24 Paklenica National Park - Oglavinovac-Javornik. (updated Dec 2017)

Germany

Beech forest in Jasmund National Park

• 25 Jasmund. (updated Dec 2017)

• 26 Serrahn. (updated Dec 2017)

• 27 Grumsin. (updated Dec 2017)

• 28 Hainich. (updated Dec 2017)

• 29 Kellerwald. (updated Dec 2017)

Italy

• 30 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Valle Cervara. (updated Dec 2017)

• 31 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Selva Moricento. (updated Dec 2017)

• 32 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Coppo del Morto. (updated Dec 2017)

• 33 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Coppo del Principe. (updated Dec 2017)

• 34 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Val Fondillo. (updated Dec 2017)

• 35 Cozzo Ferriero. (updated Dec 2017)

• 36 Foresta Umbra. (updated Dec 2017)

• 37 Monte Cimino. (updated Dec 2017)

• 38 Monte Raschio. (updated Dec 2017)

• 39 Sasso Fratino. (updated Dec 2017)

Romania

Beușnița waterfall in Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park

• 40 Cheile Nerei-Beușnița. (updated Dec 2017)

• 41 Codrul secular Șinca. (updated Dec 2017)

• 42 Codrul Secular Slătioara. (updated Dec 2017)

• 43 Cozia - Masivul Cozia. (updated Dec 2017)

• 44 Cozia – Lotrisor. (updated Dec 2017)

• 45 Domogled - Valea Cernei - Domogled-Coronini- Bedina. (updated Dec 2017)

• 46 Domogled – Valea Cernei- Iauna Craiovei. (updated Dec 2017)

• 47 Domogled - Valea Cernei- Ciucevele Cernei. (updated Dec 2017)

• 48 Groșii Țibleșului – Izvorul Șurii. (updated Dec 2017)

• 49 Groșii Țibleșului - Preluci. (updated Dec 2017)

• 50 Izvoarele Nerei. (updated Dec 2017)

• 51 Strimbu Băiuț. (updated Dec 2017)

Slovakia

Rožok forest

• 52 Havešová Primeval Forest. (updated Dec 2017)

• 53 Rožok. (updated Dec 2017)

• 54 Stužnica – Bukovské Vrchy. (updated Dec 2017)

• 55 Vihorlat. (updated Dec 2017)

Slovenia

• 56 Krokar. (updated Dec 2017)

• 57 Snežnik-Ždrocle. (updated Dec 2017)

Spain

• 58 Hayedos de Ayllon - Tejera Negra. (updated Dec 2017)

• 59 Hayedos de Ayllon - Montejo. (updated Dec 2017)

• 60 Hayedos de Navarra – Lizardoia. (updated Dec 2017)

• 61 Hayedos de Navarra - Aztaparreta. (updated Dec 2017)

• 62 Hayedos de Picos de Europa - Cuesta Fria. (updated Dec 2017)

• 63 Hayedos de Picos de Europa - Canal de Asotin. (updated Dec 2017)

Ukraine

Lazeschyna River in Chornohora in the winter

• 64 Chornohora. (updated Dec 2017)

• 65 Kuziy-Trybushany. (updated Dec 2017)

• 66 Maramarosh. (updated Dec 2017)

• 67 Stuzhytsia – Uzhok. (updated Dec 2017)

• 68 Svydovets. (updated Dec 2017)

• 69 Uholka – Shyrikyi Luh. (updated Dec 2017)

• 70 Gorgany. (updated Dec 2017)

• 71 Roztochya. (updated Dec 2017)

• 72 Satanivska Dacha. (updated Dec 2017)

• 73 Synevyr – Darvaika. (updated Dec 2017)

• 74 Synevyr – Kvasovets. (updated Dec 2017)

• 75 Synevyr – Strymba. (updated Dec 2017)

• 76 Synevyr – Vilshany. (updated Dec 2017)

• 77 Zacharovanyi Krai - Irshavka. (updated Dec 2017)

• 78 Zacharovanyi Krai - Velykyi Dil. (updated Dec 2017)

See also

• Eurasian wildlife
• Outdoor life