15 Years of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Ancient Beech Forests’: Symposium at the HNEE
The year 2026 marks the 15th anniversary of the designation of the German components of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site ‘Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe’. To mark this occasion, a symposium will be held on 16 and 17 September 2026 at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE).
The event is funded and organised by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Technical and organisational support is provided by the ECONICS INSTITUTE e. V. and agrathaer GmbH. The conference will be conducted primarily in German.
The focus is on the global significance of ancient beech forests, current monitoring and research findings, and prospects for their protection in the context of the biodiversity and climate crises. The conference brings together stakeholders from academia, administration, politics and the field, and provides a space for professional exchange, networking and discussion.
The programme includes specialist presentations and keynote speeches on the development of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, presentations of current monitoring and research findings, expert panels and interactive discussion formats. In addition, the five German World Heritage sites will be presented.
A special highlight of the programme is the field trip on the second day of the event: on 17 September 2026, a field trip will take place to the Grumsin sub-site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Schorfheide-Chorin UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. On site, experts will present and bring to life monitoring results, the area’s unique features, and current challenges in the protection of old beech forests.
The symposium will take place in the Wilhelm Pfeil Auditorium at HNEE, Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, 16225 Eberswalde. The programme and registration details are available online: 15 Years of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site ‘Ancient Beech Forests’ – agrathaer.
A total of 100 places are available for the event. Early registration by 31 July 2026 is recommended.