NP Harz

Germany's largest forest national park

The National Park (NP) Harz is the largest forest national park in Germany and covers 24,703 hectares (= 10% of the total area of the Harz). It is the northernmost low mountain range in Germany.

Approximately 96% of the national park is forested. In a relatively confined area the national park comprises different altitudinal belts, from hill country up to the subalpine summit of the Brocken. Among all German low mountain ranges only the Harz reaches the natural tree line.

The NP Harz is characterized by a highly diverse flora. Most plant species are not native in the Harz but have accumulated from different regions in Europe. Many of them originate from northern Europe and are relicts of the glacial period. 
The sampling area covers the territory of the former NP Hochharz (Upper Harz Mountains).

• The park is regarded as a developing national park. About 41% of the area is core zone with strict protection of all natural processes.
• In 2003, the IUCN (World Conservation Union) recognized the park as a National Park (Category II of the IUCN classification of protected areas).
• As part of the Natura 2000 Habitat Network and System of Protected Areas it contributes to the preservation of forest-dependent habitats or species of Community interest.
• It is registered as Fauna-Flora Habitat (FFH) and most of the area is confirmed as European bird sanctuary.
• Due to its scenic beauty and its characteristic natural landscape the NP Harz is one of the most important tourist areas in Central Europe.
• Since the 1980s, air pollutants originating from local sources as well as from the Ruhr  and Western Europe have lead to soil acidification, increased aluminium release, and disorders of the soil’s nutrient balance. These factors also affected the spruce population in the national park.

Recommended analysis examples

• alpha-HCH contamination of roe deer from the Nationalpark Harz

Sub-areas

• Oberes Ilseeinzugsgebiet

  Catchment area of the upper Ilse river (Obere Ilse)

Specimen

• Common spruce

  A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.

  Search data

• Beech

  As the most dominant deciduous tree species in Central Europe, it plays a significant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems up to an altitude of 1100 m.

  Search data

• Roe deer, one-year-old

  The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.

  Search data

• Soil

  Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil.

  Search data

Analytes

• Metals

  Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals

  Search data

• Nonmetals

  Only eighteen elements in the periodic table

  Search data

• Chlorohydrocarbons

  Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom

  Search data

• DDT and metabolites

  Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide

  Search data

• Hexachlorocyclohexane

  Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons

  Search data

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

  Group of organic compounds with at least three condensed six-membered rings

  Search data

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds

  Organic compounds which are fully (per-) or partially (poly-) fluorinated

  Search data

• Stable Isotopes

  Atoms of one element with different weights

  Search data

• Flame Retardants

  Flame retardants reduce the flammability of objects

  Search data

• Supplementary parameters

  Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data

  Search data

Sampling period

Extended information

Links to external information and legislation

• Harz National Park (external)