# Beech forests of Europe

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

* 42.48138920.0572221 Lumi i gashit. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.20305620.5005562 Rrajca. (updated Dec 2017)

### Austria

* 47.7715.04753 Dürrenstei. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.74944414.4822224 Kalkalpen - Hintergebirg. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.78722214.3533335 Kalkalpen - Bodinggraben. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.80416714.2394446 Kalkalpen - Urlach. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.83333314.4336117 Kalkalpen – Wilder Graben. (updated Dec 2017)

### Belgium

* 50.7563894.4166678 Sonian Forest – Forest Reserve “Joseph Zwaenepoel”. (updated Dec 2017)
* 50.7816674.4266679 Sonian Forest – Grippensdelle A. (updated Dec 2017)
* 50.7836114.432510 Sonian Forest - Grippensdelle B. (updated Dec 2017)
* 50.7341674.43694411 Sonian Forest – Réserve forestière du Ticton A. (updated Dec 2017)
* 50.7269444.43083312 Sonian Forest – Réserve forestière du Ticton B. (updated Dec 2017)

### Bulgaria

* 42.80277824.26916713 Central Balkan – Boatin Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.77555624.40514 Central Balkan - Tsarichina Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.79638924.52472215 Central Balkan – Kozya stena Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.74527824.70722216 Central Balkan – Steneto Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.70305624.81888917 Central Balkan – Stara reka Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.69555624.97305618 Central Balkan - Dzhendema Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.74555624.93472219 Central Balkan – Severen Dzhendem Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.76525.07472220 Central Balkan – Peeshti skali Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.69777825.13833321 Central Balkan – Sokolna Reserve. (updated Dec 2017)

### Croatia

* 44.76638915.01083322 Hajdučki i Rožanski kukovi. (updated Dec 2017)
* 44.34055615.50027823 Paklenica National Park - Suva draga-Klimenta. (updated Dec 2017)
* 44.38444415.44972224 Paklenica National Park - Oglavinovac-Javornik. (updated Dec 2017)

### Germany

* 54.54805613.64527825 Jasmund. (updated Dec 2017)
* 53.3413.19777826 Serrahn. (updated Dec 2017)
* 52.98638913.89555627 Grumsin. (updated Dec 2017)
* 51.07861110.43555628 Hainich. (updated Dec 2017)
* 51.1452788.97361129 Kellerwald. (updated Dec 2017)

### Italy

* 41.83222213.72861130 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Valle Cervara. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.84694413.70555631 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Selva Moricento. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.86027813.84666732 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Coppo del Morto. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.787513.74416733 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Coppo del Principe. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.75416713.88583334 Abruzzo, Lazio & Molise - Val Fondillo. (updated Dec 2017)
* 39.90583316.10111135 Cozzo Ferriero. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.807515.97777836 Foresta Umbra. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.40861112.20305637 Monte Cimino. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.17361112.16111138 Monte Raschio. (updated Dec 2017)
* 43.84444411.80305639 Sasso Fratino. (updated Dec 2017)

### Romania

* 44.90527821.81111140 Cheile Nerei-Beușnița. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.66666725.17055641 Codrul secular Șinca. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.44333325.627542 Codrul Secular Slătioara. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.33166724.32555643 Cozia - Masivul Cozia. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.29527824.25916744 Cozia – Lotrisor. (updated Dec 2017)
* 44.94194422.46861145 Domogled - Valea Cernei - Domogled-Coronini- Bedina. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.10861122.57805646 Domogled – Valea Cernei- Iauna Craiovei. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.24444422.82305647 Domogled - Valea Cernei- Ciucevele Cernei. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.54972224.18583348 Groșii Țibleșului – Izvorul Șurii. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.53472224.22027849 Groșii Țibleșului - Preluci. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.122522.06638950 Izvoarele Nerei. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.62583324.07305651 Strimbu Băiuț. (updated Dec 2017)

### Slovakia

* 49.00972222.33888952 Havešová Primeval Forest. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.97522.46666753 Rožok. (updated Dec 2017)
* 49.08611122.53611154 Stužnica – Bukovské Vrchy. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.92916722.18972255 Vihorlat. (updated Dec 2017)

### Slovenia

* 45.54194414.76888956 Krokar. (updated Dec 2017)
* 45.58472214.45527857 Snežnik-Ždrocle. (updated Dec 2017)

### Spain

* 41.234167-3.38861158 Hayedos de Ayllon - Tejera Negra. (updated Dec 2017)
* 41.112222-3.49944459 Hayedos de Ayllon - Montejo. (updated Dec 2017)
* 43.006389-1.11277860 Hayedos de Navarra – Lizardoia. (updated Dec 2017)
* 42.910833-0.81611161 Hayedos de Navarra - Aztaparreta. (updated Dec 2017)
* 43.1725-4.98777862 Hayedos de Picos de Europa - Cuesta Fria. (updated Dec 2017)
* 43.171111-4.88916763 Hayedos de Picos de Europa - Canal de Asotin. (updated Dec 2017)

### Ukraine

* 48.14027824.39305664 Chornohora. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.93916724.14055665 Kuziy-Trybushany. (updated Dec 2017)
* 47.93666724.32638966 Maramarosh. (updated Dec 2017)
* 49.07055622.05027867 Stuzhytsia – Uzhok. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.18916724.22694468 Svydovets. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.30611123.69611169 Uholka – Shyrikyi Luh. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.47194424.29944470 Gorgany. (updated Dec 2017)
* 49.96222223.64944471 Roztochya. (updated Dec 2017)
* 49.17388926.24888972 Satanivska Dacha. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.48722223.74888973 Synevyr – Darvaika. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.38523.71277874 Synevyr – Kvasovets. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.45305623.79666775 Synevyr – Strymba. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.35555623.6676 Synevyr – Vilshany. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.452523.08972277 Zacharovanyi Krai - Irshavka. (updated Dec 2017)
* 48.422523.16166778 Zacharovanyi Krai - Velykyi Dil. (updated Dec 2017)

## See also

* Eurasian wildlife
* Outdoor life