Creation, growth and death - natures eternal cycle can be clearly seen and we humans can discover its ancient laws again. National Parks protect our natural heritage for future generations.

Wilderness conservation
The most important aim of National Parks  is to protect natural processes. If humans had not intervened, most of central Europe would be covered with mixed decduous woodland, with its green summer foliage. A relatively small area would consist of coniferous forest and bogs. But thousands of yeares ago humans settled in Europe. They gradually cleared most of the woodlands for farming used the remaining wooded areas intensively.

However, in a few remote areas with a harsh climate, like the Bavarian Forest, the settlers have only arrived relatively recently. This has enabled virtually all the animals and plants that occur here naturally to survive. In the National Park, natural forest is developing again in areas that used to be managed commercially. Today the National Park contains the largest area of protected natural forest in central, southern and western Europe.

Trees in this forest wilderness can again grow old, and thick - until they die from old age, are blown down in a storm or attacked and killed by natural enemies. Soon young seedlings replace the old giants, wich slowly decay into the soil and release their nutrients.

Experienc the forest, understand nature
National Parks do not exclude people. On the contrary, visitors are welcome guests who are offered the oportunity to encounter untouched nature.

You can experience nature in the Park with all your senses: marvel at giant, virgin forest trees; listen to a bubbling spring; smell the fungi on rotting wood; and feel cool, moist mosses on the forest floor.

This ist how to develop a deep, personal relationship with nature - so important for understanding the complex processes within living forest communities. This in turn helps us to become aware that nature is vulnerable and that we are responsible for protecting it - not only in the National Park.

Along with nature and conservation research, teaching people about nature is an important task of the National Park.

Research on nature
In the National Park we use scientific methods to help us recognize and understand how natural cycles and processes work. Research and long term observation enable scientists to build up a picture of how forest communities grow and develop, and to identify unnatural disturbances.

Research within the National Park also provides important information for the sustainable use and management in commercial forests.

Forests in the National Park
The National Park is almost completely covered by forest. The harsh climate and differing altitudes have led to three very different types of woodland community developing over the last few thousand years.

Mountain spruce forest
Until fairly recently, the climate was so inhospitable that only spruce trees resistant to cold and the occasional mountain ash could tolerate the harsh conditions in the higher areas above 1,200 meters.

At this height it is too cold for beech and fir. The spruce have particularly small crowns and short branches, and can thus withstand storms and snow.

A few hardy plants such as reed grass, wavy. hair grass, bilberry and various ferns provide a thick but species-poor carpet. The peak of the Rachel mountain lies just below the tree Iine.

Mixed mountain forest
On the mainly south and south westerly facing slopes between about 650 and 1,200 meters, it is considerably warmer than in the higher altitudes. White fir and beech grow alongside the spruce. Sycamore is also to be found, especially on rocky ground.

The now rare mountain elm as weIl as Iarge leaved lime and ash grow in particularly warm areas with rich soil. A few yew trees also remain. This mixed mountain forest covers almost two thirds of the National Park. Buckler fern, lady fern, yellow archangel, woodruff and the Iess common martagon liIy are some of the characteristic and attractive plants to be found here.

VaIIey spruce forests
On clear nights, cold air flows off the mountain slopes and settles in the valleys where, even in summer, there can be ground frost.