From a vision to concrete implementation - HNEE concludes InterregCE projectBEECH POWER as lead partner

To enhance the management quality and effectiveness of the UNESCO World Heritage Beech Forests by building capacities for stakeholder involvement and anchoring the World Heritage in the region – this was the main objective of the BEECH POWER project, funded by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme and lead by the University for Sustainable Development HNEE (Faculty of Forest and Environment, Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management). The closing conference organised on the 29^th March  marked the conclusion to a long-time commitment, which started in April 2019 and will formally end on 31^st March 2022.

European beech grows nowhere else in the world but in Europe. The ongoing ecological process of beech forests spreading from small refuge areas throughout the continent since the last ice age is of outstanding universal value. For this reason, 94 of these beech forests distributed across 18 European countries are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage (WH) Site ‘Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’ represents the most complex transnational serial natural site in the UNESCO portfolio.

In order to ensure effective management of such a complex transnational site, both strong cooperation in the regions and beyond borders is essential.

The BEECH POWER project responded exactly to this need, by establishing a cooperation platform for stakeholders and harmonizing the management and conservation measures across sites and regions. The partnership believes, that the key to achieve a successful and long-term protection is its community-based approach, with a focus on young generations and participatory stakeholder involvement. The project recognized the important role that neighbouring communities of beech forests can play in preserving the common natural heritage and aimed to empower them to actively participate in the development of strategies and to support local sustainable development.

The development of several strategic tools along with the organization of workshops, trainings and exchanges document the relevance and creative force of the work of the BEECH POWER partnership: empowering World Heritage Beech Forest Communities, strengthening the processes of community development and the steps necessary for real change. Various materials accessible on the project website showcase the experiences accumulated and exchanged by the partners and the joint achievements.

More information about the project and the results can be found here.

Click here ​​​​​​​for the german version.

Contact:
Marcus Waldherr
Faculty of Forest and Environment - Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management
Marcus.Waldherr@hnee.de
Tel.: +49 3334 657 316

Press contact:
Corinna Hartwig
Science communication
Phone: +49 3334 657-227
presse@hnee.de 

About Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (EUSD)

Connecting with Nature for the benefit of Humans.

EUSD is a nationally and internationally active impulse generator for sustainable development. Around 2,300 students from 57 countries study and more than 350 employees research, teach and work at the university in the midst of an extensive natural landscape just outside Berlin. In the four faculties of Forest and Environment, Landscape Use and Conservation, Wood Engineering and Sustainable Economy, students can obtain skills in fields such as nature conservation, forest ecosystem management, organic agriculture, adaptation to climate change, sustainable economy, timber construction or sustainable tourism management in currently 20 study programmes, some of which are unique in Germany.
www.hnee.de/en