The Sonian Forest in Belgium, which this year celebrates the fifth anniversary of its UNESCO-recognised nature reserves, is affected by climate change but shows great adaptability.
In 2017, five parts of the Sonian Forest were identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the “Ancient and Primitive Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. “It is the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in Belgium.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has given this prestige to these virgin forests because they are a living example of the exceptional evolution and effect of beech ecosystems in Europe since the end of the last glaciation. evolved with very little human influence.
The spaces of the Sonian Forest are part of a set identified through UNESCO that adds in recent times 94 virgin forests in 18 European countries, covering a domain of 980 km2, almost double the domain of Andorra.
In those reserves “there are piles of beech trees over two hundred years old, with diameters between 80 and 160 cm,” says Caroline Celis, Coordinator of the World Heritage of the Sonian Forest in Belgium. “In addition, with a height of up to 50 meters, they are among the largest beech trees in the world. We owe these majestic dimensions to the situations of forest development.
threats
However, according to the World Heritage Outlook of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the customers of those virgin forests are “very worrying”. The biggest threats are logging, basically in the surrounding buffer zones, as well as weather. change.
The Sonian forest itself is not immune to the effects of climate change. Warmer, drier springs and summers create weaker trees that might not grow as tall in the future. creating their own microclimate in which they can protect themselves from inclement weather.
Biodiversity
Each of UNESCO’s 94 beech forests has its own species. Central and Eastern Europe is home to iconic species, such as wolves, lynxes and brown bears.
In the Sonian Forest, many species are protected, several bats, but also the crested newt.
“The biodiversity of the Sonian Forest is very high. There are about 23 species of bats in Belgium, and 18 are added in the Sonian Forest. That’s an impressive figure,” says Celis.
According to Ms. Celis, there is an inverse trend in biodiversity in the Sonian Forest. “In the rest of the world, it is dramatic, yet the Sonian Forest has diversified in recent decades. As a result of greater forest management, there is more dead wood and an accumulation of biodiversity thanks to the recovery of vegetation, fungi and organisms that live on this type of wood.
Power of cooperation
A joint control committee with representatives from the 18 countries hosting virgin forests meets twice a year.
“This European network is a wonderful advantage,” says Celis. Through the exchange of clinical data and reports on the control and coverage of those exceptional forests, we can improve global warming and percentage data on sustainable forest control. “
“I’m very much in the strength of collaboration; I paint with other people from all over Europe who protect those forests with wonderful hobby and commitment. This provides hope for the future,” says Celis.
The long term of virgin forests
Since the last glaciation, the European beech has spread throughout almost the entire European continent: an exclusive story of good luck, which will continue to grow. Heritage Sites.
“These ancient forests will help us better cope with the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis in the future. We are interested in protecting them. Recognition as a UNESCO heritage site means those forests will have to be ‘forever’ and this can only help. “concludes the Belgian Heritage Coordinator.
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