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).

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.

• Eurasian wildlife
• Outdoor life