Harz

Summary

The Harz National Park is a legally protected area of international importance. As usual in national parks around the world, also here nature is allowed to develop largely free of human influence. Our motto is: “Let nature be nature”, a privilege that applies to less than 1% of the German territory. Beech and spruce forests, sub-alpine dwarf shrub heaths, bogs and rock biotopes offer retreats for over 10,000 animal and plant species including rare or even threatened ones. The lynx also feels at home again in this legendary mountain wilderness. Also you can help protect these special habitats by following the rules of the park.

Description

Forest in transition to wilderness in Harz National Park The look of the forests in the Harz Mountains has changed considerably in recent years. The grey silhouettes of dead spruce trees in the National Park tower into the sky or lie scattered across each other on the ground and by the roadsides. At first sight this seems strange to many people. But even though many dead trees are visible, this forest is as vibrant and dynamic as it has not been for a long time. Initiated by storms and a small insect benefitting from climate change – the European spruce bark beetle – a new wilderness is developing here: more species-rich, more versatile, and more robust. True to the National Park motto “Let nature be nature”, the flora and fauna in large parts of the National Park can develop freely, and we have a unique opportunity to observe it on its way from a former commercial forest to a wild natural forest.