Post conference excursion: National Park Hainich, Western Thuringia, with Tree Tops Walk

Sunday, 25th May 2008
Time frame: 8:15 - 17:30.
Excursion guides: Manfred Großmann & co-worker of the Hainich National Park Organisation

Hainich National Park: unique Middle European deciduous forest on calcareous substrate.

Beech forests with Fagus sylvatica are typical and unique to Europe. Their highest variability is documented in Central Europe. The Hainich Nationalpark in the heart of Central Europe is the most important and largest beech forest.
The Hainich National Park covers 76 km² and is the 13th and most recent National Park in Germany. Situated on a shell limestone mountain range of 494 m above sea level, the Hainich features a broad variety of natural vegetation types. Unlike other woodland areas in Germany and Central Europe, the Hainich beech forests have developed with little human intervention. At its fringes, we find dry grasslands interspersed with little ponds and scrub. Woody species are colonising the open grasslands and the shrub and woodland stages merge into species-rich, well structured deciduous forests.
The Hainich National Park is rich in biodiversity. In total 7626 species had been recorded by the end of 2006: 4885 animals, 1161 plants, and 1580 fungi (from: Artenbericht 2007, Nationalpark Hainich, February 2007). Four main habitat types can be distinguished:

1. Woodlands
In the National Park, woodland is the dominating habitat type with a percentage of c. 69 %. The amount of coniferous tree species is only 3 %. Beech forests are covering most of the area. The main type is the Asperulo-Fagetum (including the Hordelymo europaei-Fagetum). According to the European Union Flora-Fauna-Habitat classification list other woodland types have been differentiated at a smaller scale: Luzulo-Fagetum, Cephalanthero-Fagion, Galio-Carpinetum, Stellario-Carpinetum, Tilio-Acerion, bog woodlands, and alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior.

2. Shrub and pioneer woodlands
These habitat types cover c. 17 % of the area and consist of many different species. They result from the encroachment of woody species into open grasslands and areas which have been clear-cut. Shrubs and pioneer woodland often build biotope mosaics with adjacent or interspersed open grassland and woodland sites that are vital for the existing wildcat population (Felis silvestris).

3. Open grasslands
Open grassland habitats cover c. 14 % of the National Park. Mostly they developed from former shooting paths that had been kept open by sheep grazing over many decades. The vegetation is characterized by species-rich dry grassland interspersed with small ponds.

4. Wetlands
Wetlands are of high importance for many species but cover less than 1 % of the area. The geological bedrock (shell limestone) restricts the occurrence of watercourse to only intermittent water-bearing streams with infiltration patches. Still water comprise artificially formed and naturally occurring ponds the latter originating from depressed areas (partly with swamp forests).

Hainich National Park, Tree Tops Walk.

Hainich National Park, Tree Tops Walk. Sculpture of a wildcat.

Hainich National Park, old-growth forest.

The excursion includes a visit to the „Tree Tops Walk“. On this 308 m route you can experience unique beech forests from a very different perspective and the 44 m high tower allows a wonderful view over the Hainich National Park and the Thuringian Basin.

Additional, a guided tour organised by the Hainch National Park Organisation will provide an opportunity to enjoy the wilderness of a natural deciduous forest with its characteristic plant and animal species.