Nearly natural terrestrial ecosystems

A forest zone in the national park Bayerischer Wald.
Photo: UPB-Projektgruppe Trier

Nearly natural ecosystems are exceptional in that they have preserved their ancient structure and function without significant human manipulation.

Although regions of this kind no longer occupy much surface area in Central Europe, they play an important part due to their genetic potential, the information they can provide about natural processes in ecosystems and their indicator function for background exposures.

The following sampling areas were chosen to represent nearly natural ecosystems.

Sampling area