Download Tentative list submission format for serial transnational and

Tentative List Submission Format for Serial Transnational and
Transboundary Future Nominations
Annex 2B
TENTATIVE LIST SUBMISSION FORMAT FOR SERIAL
TRANSNATIONAL AND TRANSBOUNDARY
FUTURE NOMINATIONS
STATE PARTY: SLOVENIA
DATE OF SUBMISSION: _. 1. 2015
Submission prepared by:
Name: Katarina Groznik Zeiler
E-mail:[email protected]
Title: PhD
Address: Dunajska c. 47, 1000 Ljubljana
Fax: 00386 1 478 74 25
Institution: Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
Telephone: 00386 1 478 74 00
1.a
Name of the serial transnational / transboundary future nomination:
Extension to the Joint World Heritage Property „Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians
(Slovak Republic and Ukraine) and Ancient Beech Forest of Germany”
1.b
Other States Parties participating: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bolgaria, Croatia, Italy,
Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Spain, Ukraine
1.c
Name(s) of the national component part(s):
1. Forest reserve “Virgin Forest Krokar”
2. Forest reserve “Snežnik – Ždrocle”
1.d
State, Province or Region:
1. Forest reserve “Virgin Forest Krokar”: Slovenia, Municipality Kočevje
2. Forest reserve “Snežnik – Ždrocle”: Slovenia, Municipality Ilirska Bistrica and Municipality
Loška dolina.
1.e
Latitude and Longitude, or Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates:
1. Forest reserve “Virgin Forest Krokar”: north 45° 32' 29", east 14° 46' 9"
2. Forest reserve “Snežnik – Ždrocle”: Slovenia: north 45° 35' 22", east 14° 26' 41"
2.a
Brief Description of the serial, transnational / transboundary future nomination:
"The future nomination, which is subject of this Tentative List entry, represents an extension to
the World Heritage property “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech
Forests of Germany” (Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine, WHC ref-no 1133bis). This property was
inscribed by the World Heritage Committee first in 2007 as “Primeval Beech Forests of the
Carpathians” (Slovakia and Ukraine) and extended in 2011 by the component parts “Ancient
Beech Forests of Germany” (Germany) to the present serial transnational site. The future
nomination (its name will be decided at a later stage of the process) is of serial, transnational
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Tentative List Submission Format for Serial Transnational and
Transboundary Future Nominations
Annex 2B
character and consists of components 33 components parts in 12 State Parties. The component
parts represent an outstanding example of undisturbed, complex temperate forests, its
postglacial expansion process and exhibit the most complete and comprehensive ecological
patterns and processes of pure and mixed stands of European Beech across a variety of
environmental conditions. They contain an invaluable genetic reservoir of Beech and many
species associated and dependent on these forest habitats.
2.b
Description of the component part(s):
1. Forest Reserve Virgin Forest Krokar
The proposed area Forest Reserve “Virgin Forest Krokar” is located in the northern part of the
Dinaric mountain range, in the south-eastern part of the mountain Borovška gora near the town
Kočevje in southern Slovenia. The Virgin Forest Krokar is part of the broader Kočevska region,
where the percentage of forest cover is higher than 75%. Fir-Beech and Beech forests are
typical of this forested area, making up more than 65% of the forests. It is assumed that this
area was an important glacial refuge, from where the Beech spread across Europe again. The
reserve is situated between 840-1,170 m asl. The reserve includes the peaks Krokar (1,122 m)
and Cerk (1,192 m). In between these peaks lies the karst plateau, which comprises several
deep sinkholes. Steep slopes are found in the eastern and southern parts of the reserve. The
reserve area comprises 74.49 ha.
The location of the Krokar Forest Reserve lies at the intersection of dinaric, predinaric,
subpanonian and submediterranean phitogeographical regions. The climate is montane dinaric
with annual precipitation of over 1,500 mm and an average annual temperature of 7 °C. The
bedrock material is Jurassic limestone and Jurassic dolomite and the soil types are eutric
cambisols and rendzic leptosols.
The forests of the Virgin Forest Krokar can be described as transitional between Pre-Dinaric
mountain Beech forest and Dinaric Fir-Beech forest and are dominated by Beech (Fagus
sylvatica L.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.). The phytocoenoses of the forest reserve can be classified
into five associations: Omphalodo-Fagetum, Arunco-Fagetum, Lamio orvalae-Fagetum, Stellario
montanae-Fagetum and Allio victorialis-Fagetum. The prevailing tree species are beech (87%),
fir (9%), and maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L., 4%). The growing stock in 2004 was 649 m3/ha. In
the entire area of the forest reserve the average number of all (beech and fir) dead trees per
hectare was 125 and dead biomass amounted to 150 m3/ha with a 53% share of Beech.
2. Forest Reserve Snežnik-Ždrocle
The proposed component part Forest Reserve Snežnik-Ždrocle in Ždrocle surrounds Mt.
Snežnik (1796 m), the highest peak of a mountainous karst plateau in the Dinaric Mountains in
the south of Slovenia. The reserve covers an area of 794.37 ha. The altitude ranges from 1,200
m to 1,796 m asl. Next to Snežnik’s peaks (Veliki 1,796 m, Mali 1,694 m), there is the peak
Ždrocle (1,478 m). The reserve comprises several karst depressions with steep walls, which are
typical for the area.
Snežnik-Ždrocle is the largest forest reserve in Slovenia. Some parts of the reserve were
managed in the past, so stands with a virgin forest character form a smaller area. The forests in
most of the reserve were managed extensively in the past due to its inaccessibility. Till 1900 the
area in the reserve above the tree line was used for sheep pastures. Charcoal was produced,
between 1903 and 1969 in the south-eastern part (Omance) and a smaller part in the northwest
were exploited, as these parts included accessible large stands of spruce.
The area is influenced by Mediterranean, Atlantic and Continental climates. Due to the fact that
the broader area of Snežnik forms a large orographical barrier between the Adriatic Sea and the
interior of Slovenia, the southern slopes of the area have a high amount of precipitation (3,143
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Transboundary Future Nominations
Annex 2B
mm – weather station Gomance, 937 m). Snežnik’s area belongs to the rainiest parts of
Slovenia, and has relatively high average temperatures (6.7°C). However for the upper part of
the area (above 1,400 m asl) extreme weather conditions are characteristic with the prevailing
strong north-eastern wind (bora), abundant snow precipitation and consequently short
vegetation period. Short and fresh summers and long but not too cold winters characterise the
area.
The Forest Reserve Snežnik-Ždrocle is located on Jurassic and cretaceous limestone and
dolomitized limestone and their breccia. There are also the traces of glaciers, for example in the
form of glacial moraines, because the area was covered with glaciers during the ice age. A large
amount of rainfall in the limestone formed distinctive karst phenomena, deep valleys, steep
ravines, potholes and sinkholes.
In the forest reserve Snežnik-Ždrocle the Beech is the main tree species. Mountain Beech
forests (Ranunculo platanifolii-Fagetum) prevail, on the exposed positions on the highest parts
they pass into subalpine Beech forests (Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum). These forests form the
timberline, above which in the strip of dwarf pine (Hyperico grisebachii-Pinetum mugo) only
single trees occur such as spruce, fir, and mountain ash. Beech forests form the timberline due
to a combination of abundant precipitation and higher temperatures than would otherwise be
found in the north. The top of the mountain Snežnik is covered by dinaric subalpine grassland
with very diverse flora, composed of illyric and also of alpine plant species. The diverse flora is
the result of specific, extreme ecologic conditions from the Pleistocen glacial era until now. At
lower altitudes mountain Beech forests pass into the mountain Fir-Beech forests (OmphalodoFagetum). The special features of the area are deep, narrow karst hollows, in which the air
remains cold. Low temperatures in these hollows are crucial for the development of the typical
pine forests therein (Lonicero caeruleae Piceetum, Hacquetio epipactis -Piceetum).
3.
JUSTIFICATION FOR OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE OF THE FUTURE
NOMINATION AS A WHOLE
(Preliminary identification of the values of the future nomination as a whole which merit
inscription on the World Heritage List)
The “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany”
(the title of a finite European nomination will be decided at a later stage of the process) 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 forests exhibit the most complete and
comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure and mixed stands of European Beech
across a variety of environmental conditions, such as climatic and geological conditions,
throughout all European Beech Forest Regions. They comprise all altitudinal zones from the
coast up to the forest line in the mountains and further include the best remaining examples of
the outer boundaries of the European Beech forest range. Beech is one of the most important
elements of forests in the Temperate Broadleaf Forest Biome and represents an outstanding
example of the re-colonization and development of terrestrial ecosystems and communities after
the last ice age. The continuing northern and westward expansion of Beech from its original
glacial refuge areas in the eastern and southern parts of Europe can be tracked along the
natural corridors and stepping stones spanning the continent. More recent changes in the
distribution pattern of this species relate to direct influences of human disturbance and the more
complex effects of anthropogenic climate change. Both historical and present serial patterns of
distribution represent natural evolutionary strategies for adapting and surviving environmental
change. The dominance by Beech across extensive areas of Europe is testament to the tree’s
genetic adaptability.
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Tentative List Submission Format for Serial Transnational and
Transboundary Future Nominations
3.a
Annex 2B
Criteria met [see Paragraph 77 of the Operational Guidelines]:
(Please tick the box corresponding to the proposed criteria and justify the use of each
below)
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix) X
(x)
.
3.b
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity [see Paragraphs 79-95 of the Operational
Guidelines]:
The selected Beech forest sites not only represents the full serial diversity found across Europe
but are also of sufficient size to maintain the natural processes necessary for the long-term
ecological viability of the wider ecosystem. Buffer zones including surrounding protected areas
(nature parks, biosphere reserves) will be managed sympathetically to ensure the long-term
conservation of the particular character of the designated Beech forest together with its inherent
attributes. Other than the extent of forest area and presence of an effective buffer zone key
characteristics used in the site selection process included the average age of forest stand and
the period of lapse since it was last managed or actively disturbed. The evaluation criteria used
in the selection process help to describe the degree of naturalness of a forest, but also provide
some indication of the inherent functional capacity of the ecosystem. Finally, where appropriate,
special importance was given to connectivity between Beech forests and the surrounding
complementary habitats as a perceived prerequisite for ecosystem functioning and adaptation to
environmental change.
1. Forest Reserve “Virgin Forest Krokar”:
Forest Reserve Virgin Forest Krokar represents the large virgin forests in the less accessible
areas of Borovec Mountain, which remained untouched after logging after the 2nd World War.
The first proposal for its protection was made in 1962, but formal protection was first
implemented with the municipality Kočevje decree in 1991. At the national level the Forest
Reserve Krokar was protected in 2005 with the governmental regulation of protective forests
and forests with special purpose. In the forest reserve’s area there was no logging in the past.
Officially the area was excluded from management in 1961 in the forest management plan for
the broader area. The forest reserve Virgin Forest Krokar was never heavily visited, and it is
possible to get an impression of it from the informative naturalistic path Borovec, which runs
along the edge of the forest reserve. The path is marked and equipped with information signs.
The Forest Reserve Borovec, comprising 45.83 ha, was declared in the 1990s as the buffer
zone for the virgin forest Krokar. The virgin forest Krokar is part of the broader forested area of
Kočevska, which covers more than 90,000 ha. In the Kočevska region forest management is
sustainable and close to nature. Species like brown bear, wolf, lynx, and white-backed
woodpecker inhabit this forested area. Due to its well-preserved nature Kočevska is also part of
Natura 2000 network according to EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
2. Forest Reserve Snežnik-Ždrocle :
Snežnik-Ždrocle is the largest forest reserve in Slovenia, comprising 794 ha. It lies in the heart
of large karst plateau, which is entirely covered by forests. The forested area of JavornikSnežnik is larger than 40,000 ha. Towards south it is connected to Kočevska’s forested area,
and it is also connected with the forests of Gorski Kotar in the Republic of Croatia. These forests
are part of the core habitat area of large carnivores: brown bear, wolf and lynx. Due to their wellOperational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
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Annex 2B
preserved nature and sustainable and close-to-nature forest management, they are also the
habitat of endangered species such as the Ural owl, Eurasian three-toed woodpecker, Whitebacked woodpecker and others. The population density of these species in the Snežnik area is
the highest or among the highest in Slovenia. The area is also part of the Natura 2000 network.
All the Beech forests in the forest reserve are part of the broader zone of habitat type Illyrian
Fagus sylvatica forests (Aremonio-Fagion).
In the least accessible parts of the Snežnik-Ždrocle area there was no forest management in the
past. In the 19thh and the first half of the 20th century part of the area was used for charcoal
production. The top of Snežnik mountain was protected in 1964 as a nature reserve due to its
botanical features. The status of forest reserve with no forest management activities, allowing
the development of natural processes, was declared in part of the area in 1980. In 1991, the
status of strictly protected forest reserve was declared for the whole area of the Forest Reserve
Snežnik-Ždrocle.
The key characteristics of the Beech forests of Snežnik-Ždrocle forest reserve are the subalpine
Beech forests (Polysticho lonchitis-Fagetum). These forests cover ridges, peaks and northern
slopes between 1300-1500 (1600) m asl. The authenticity of sub-alpine Beech forests is
emphasized by their unique floristic composition and physiognomy. At the most exposed part
the trees are bent, with low shrub growth of only 3-5 m in height, arranged in bundles and very
picturesque. This is due to the extreme ecological conditions (strong north wind, low winter
temperatures and lots of snow on the northern slopes, which remains there until May).
Subalpine Beech forests on Snežnik form a sharp treeline passing in the dwarf pine stands and
subalpine Dinaric meadows.
3.c.1
Justification of the selection of the component part(s) in relation to the future
nomination as a whole:
In the selection process of suitable primeval and ancient Beech forests in Europe, a
classification system defining Beech Forest Regions (BFR) in Europe has been developed.
Each BFR is characterised by its specific climatic and floristic situation and showing an
individual history of postglacial Beech forest development differing in time of first Beech arrival
and the different genetic ecotypes of Beech, as Beech was re-colonising Europe after the last
ice-age from different refuge areas.
It is considered that a finite serial transnational European nomination will include candidates
from all BFR. Therefore, the best suitable Beech forest sites in each BFR have been selected to
represent the different ecotypes and postglacial development processes in a most
representative way. Each component part within one BFR brings specific aspects and
significantly adds additional value to the series as a whole. These specific aspects are shown in
the following:
The Krokar Forest Reserve belongs to the key relict Beech forest communities in the northern
part of the Illyric Beech forest Region, which belong to the origins of postglacial Beech forest
distribution towards central Europe and the Carpathians. For this reason the component is an
indispensable element of the final picture of the ongoing ecological process of European Beech
forest distribution.
Snežnik-Ždrocle is a large glacial (Pleistocene) refuge area of the northern part of the Illyric
Beech Forest Region, which belongs to the origins of postglacial Beech forest distribution
towards central Europe and the Carpathians. It also covers the area of botanical and
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Annex 2B
physiognomically typical subalpine Beech forests, which form the timberline. For this reason the
component part is an indispensable element to understanding the on-going ecological process
of postglacial Beech forest distribution in Europe.
3.c.2
Comparison with other similar properties:
(This comparison should outline the similarities with other properties inscribed or not on
the World Heritage List, and the reasons for the exceptional character of the future
nomination).
The comparison with other similar properties has already been provided in the nomination
dossiers 1133 (2007) and 1133bis (2011).
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