baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Hainich National Park, Germany

This is not actually primeval forest but the size of the park (75 km ² ) and its relatively natural state make it important in the Central European context. Before German reunification it was a military area, which protected it from forestry ¹ . Some areas (elev. 300–450 m) of the park have many characteristics of old-growth forest, like snags and fallen trees. On average, the forest is not particularly old but there are large old trees scattered throughout the park. Old cut stumps and traces of old roads can be seen in places. Soil is lime rich and fertile ¹ , so the herb flora is rich and leaf litter decomposes rapidly. However, the dominant tree species Fagus sylvatica (European beech) grows better on more acid soils ² so does not become particularly tall in this park. Tree species diversity is relatively low and most of them are easy to identify. The most common tree species after F. sylvatica are Carpinus betulus (European hornbeam), Fraxinus excelsior (European ash) and Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple). Average annual precipitation is 750 mm ¹ . In 2011, a part of the park was added to the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany World Heritage Site.

If you are seeking silence and nature sounds, note that there is quite a lot of aircraft noise, the planes leaving Frankfurt for East Asia ³ taking off over the park.

References:

1 Sperber, G. & Thierfelder, S. (2005): Urwälder Deutschlands. BLV Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.

2 Ellenberg, H. (1996): Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. Ulmer.

3 www.flightradar24.com

Official site:

http://www.nationalpark-hainich.de/