Editing Western European broadleaf forests

{{Short description|Ecoregion in Western Europe}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
| name                        = Western European broadleaf forests
| image                       = File:20070517-20 Vosges du Nord (098).JPG
| image_size                  = 
| image_alt                   = 
| image_caption               = Temperate mixed forests covering the mountain slopes in [[Vosges du Nord Bioreserve]] in Alsace, France.
| country                     = [[Poland]]
| country1                    = [[Czech Republic]]
| country2                    = [[Austria]]
| country3                    = [[Germany]]
| country4                    = [[Switzerland]]
| country5                    = [[France]]
| country6                    = [[Luxembourg]]
| country7                    = [[Belgium]]
| country8                    = [[Netherlands]]
| state                       = 
| border                      = [[Central European mixed forests]]
| border1                     = [[Pannonian mixed forests]]
| border2                     = [[Alps conifer and mixed forests]]
| border3                     = [[Northeast Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests]]
| border4                     = [[Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests]]
| border5                     = [[European Atlantic mixed forests]]
| bird_species                = 
| mammal_species              = 
| habitat_loss                = 
| habitat_loss_ref            = 
| protected                   = 
| protected_ref               = 
| area                        =  492357
| biogeographic_realm         = [[Palearctic]]
| biome                       = [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]
| conservation                = Critical/Endangered 
| map                         = File:Ecoregion PA0445.png
| map_size                    = 
| map_alt                     = 
| map_caption                 = Ecoregion PA0445
<!-- ***Location*** -->
| coordinates                 = {{coord|49.153870|N|8.875401|E|display=inline,title}}
|footnotes                    =
}}
The '''Western European broadleaf forests''' is an [[ecoregion]] in [[Western Europe]], and parts of the [[Alps]]. It comprises [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]], that cover large areas of France, Germany and the Czech Republic and more moderately sized parts of Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and South Limburg (Netherlands). Luxembourg is also part of this ecoregion.

==Geography==
The Western European broadleaf forests ecoregion covers an area of {{convert|492357|km2|0|abbr=on}}, including the [[Massif Central]], Central German Uplands, [[Jura Mountains]], Bavarian Plateau, and [[Bohemian Massif]].

This area has been inhabited for thousands of years and holds several large cities such as [[Lyon]], [[Nancy, France|Nancy]] and [[Munich]]. Most of the countryside has been cleared for agricultural land, cultivated with [[cereal]]s ([[maize|corn]], [[wheat]], [[oat]]s), and to a smaller extent [[grapes]]. The ecoregion hosts a good variety of animal species, birds in particular, but most large mammals are in decline.

== Forests ==
The forest habitats of the ecoregion comprise mainly lowland and alti-[[Montane forest|montane]] mixed beech forests. There is also some [[natural beech wood]]s, and the region also includes small parts of sub-Mediterranean forest habitats. The dominant trees in this forest are ''[[Quercus robur]]'', ''[[Quercus petraea]]'', ''[[Picea abies]]'', ''[[Alnus glutinosa]]'', ''[[Fagus sylvatica]]'', ''[[Taxus baccata]]'', ''[[Acer pseudoplatanus]]'', ''[[Malus sylvestris]]'', ''[[Viburnum lantana]]'', ''[[Fraxinus excelsior]]'', ''[[Tilia cordata]]'', ''[[Aesculus hippocastanum]]'', ''[[Rhamnus cathartica]]'', ''[[Ulmus glabra]]'', ''[[Ulmus minor]]'', ''[[Populus alba]]'',  ''[[Salix alba]]'',  ''[[Pinus sylvestris]]'', ''[[Betula pendula]]'', ''[[Populus tremula]]'', ''[[Populus nigra]]'', ''[[Juglans regia]]'', ''[[Juniperus communis]]'', ''[[Prunus padus]]'' and ''[[Corylus avellana]]''

<gallery>
File:Detmold - 2014-08-27 - Hohe Warte (30).jpg|Broadleaf forests ([[Teutoburger Forest]], Germany)
File:ViewtoWuerttemberg.jpg|Conifer in the montane parts
File:Licht im Schwarzwald.jpg|Inside the conifer forests ([[Black Forest]], Germany)
File:Waldweg in den Nordvogesen.jpg|[[European beech]] is abundant in many submontane parts
File:Black Forest- Stream (10562132523).jpg|Mountain streams, rocky ground, and deciduous trees in a mix with conifer
File:Black Forest- Road (10561950824).jpg|Autumn
File:Simonswälder Tal 150707.JPG|Many valleys have been cleared for villages and agriculture
</gallery>

== Fauna ==
{{expand section|date=September 2019}}
<gallery>
File:Wolf im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald 1.jpg|Wolf
File:Luchs im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald 8.jpg|Lynx
File:Wildschweine im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald.jpg|Wild boar
File:Hirsch im Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald 1.jpg|Stag
File:Feuersalamander Larve Quellfassung.jpg|Fire salamander
File:150712-Steigerkopf-02.jpg|Anthill
</gallery>

== Status and conservation ==
Most of the original forest of the ecoregion has been cleared in the last 200 years, but a few larger patches remain, typically in non-arable montane areas that are part of national parks or protections. The woodlands of the ecoregion is generally second-growth and heavily fragmented.

[[National park]]s and larger [[Nature reserve|nature protections]] in the ecoregion includes:
[[File:20140531 Kermeter-Urft 01.JPG|thumb|Eifel National Park]]
[[File:2010 Pfalz 016.jpg|thumb|Winter. Palatinate Forest Nature Park.]]
[[File:Baumwipfelpfad Neuschönau Weg.jpg|thumb|Canopy walkways in Bavarian Forest National Park]]
[[File:Sächsische Schweiz – Elbsandsteingebirge – Blick von der Bastei - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Elbe Sandstone Mountains]]
[[File:Naturpark Thal 98.jpg|thumb|Thal Nature Park]]
[[File:Cascades du Hérisson (6045046687).jpg|thumb|Waterfalls and gorges in Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! | Country
! | Name<br />
! | Year<ref>Note that the year given here, marks the earliest establishment. Several protections has been expanded later on.</ref><br />
! | Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref>Note that forest might not cover all of the protected area.</ref><br />
! | [[IUCN protected area categories|IUCN category]]<br />
! class="unsortable" | Notes

|-
| Germany and Belgium || [[High Fens – Eifel Nature Park]] || 1960 || 2,485 || 107&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is category II || Cross-border protection.<br>Includes a [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar Wetland]] area since 2003.<br>Includes the [[Eifel National Park]] established in 2004.
|-
| Germany and Luxembourg || [[German-Luxembourg Nature Park]] || 1964 || 789 ||     || Cross-border protection.
|-
| Germany || [[Bergstraße-Odenwald Nature Park]] || 1960 || 3,500 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Spessart Nature Park]] || 1961 || 2,440 ||     || 
|-
| Germany || [[Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naturpark-sauerland-rothaargebirge.de/|title=Naturpark Sauerland Rothaargebirge|language=German|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 2015 || 3,827 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Arnsberg Forest Nature Park]] || 1960 || 482 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Teutoburg Forest / Egge Hills Nature Park]] || 1965 || 2,700 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Thuringian Forest Nature Park]] || 1979 || 2,200 || 337&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is category II || Includes a [[UNESCO biosphere reserve]]
|-
| Germany || [[Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Park]] ||    || 1,270 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Central/North Black Forest Nature Park]] ||    || 3,750 || 101&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is category II || Includes the [[Black Forest National Park]] established in 2014.
|-
| Germany || [[Southern Black Forest Nature Park]] || 1999 || 3,940 ||     ||
|-
| Germany and France|| [[Palatinate Forest-North Vosges Biosphere Reserve]] || 1992 || 3,018 ||     || Cross-border protection.<br>UNESCO biosphere reserve.<br>A fusion of [[Palatinate Forest Nature Park]] (Germany) and [[Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park]] (France).
|-
| Germany || [[Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park]] || 1995 || 2,346 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Bavarian Forest National Park]] || 1970 || 243 || Category II || The park connects with the [[Šumava National Park]] in Czech Republic
|-
| Germany || [[Altmühl Valley Nature Park]] || 1969 || 2,962 ||     ||
|-
| Germany || [[Augsburg Western Woods Nature Park]] || 1988 || 1,175 ||     ||
|-
| Belgium || [[Two Ourthes Nature Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pndo.be/|title=Le Parc naturel des deux Ourthes|language=French|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 2001 || 760 ||     ||
|-
| Belgium || [[Upper Sure Anlier Forest Nature Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parcnaturel.be/|title=Parc naturel Haute-Sûre Forêt d'Anlier|language=French|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 2001 || 720 ||     ||
|-
| Belgium || [[Gaume Natural Park]] || 2014 || 581 ||     ||
|-
| Belgium || [[Viroin-Hermeton Nature Park]] ||    || 120 ||     ||
|-
| Belgium || [[Attert Valley Nature Park]] || 1994 || 71 ||     ||
|-
| Czech Republic and Germany || [[Elbe Sandstone Mountains]] || 1956 || 783 || 173&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is category II || A collection of several protections, including [[Bohemian Switzerland National Park]] and [[Saxon Switzerland National Park]].
|-
| Czech Republic and Germany || [[Lusatian Mountains]] || 1976 || 397 ||  || The Czech parts of these mountains forms the Lusatian Mountains Protected Landscape Area and the smaller German part forms the [[Zittau Mountain Nature Park]].
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Bohemian Paradise]] || 1955 || 181 ||    || 
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area]] || 1968 || 368 ||    || 
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Krkonoše National Park]] || 1963 || 550 || Category II || UNESCO biosphere reserve.<br>Connects with [[Karkonosze National Park]] in Poland
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area]] || 1991 || 430 || Category V ||
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Orlické Mountains Protected Landscape Area]] || 1969 || 204 || Category V ||
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area]] || 1969 || 740 || Category V ||
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Žďár Highlands Protected Landscape Area]] || 1970 || 709 || Category V ||
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Třeboňsko Protected Landscape Area]] || 1979 || 700 ||     || UNESCO biosphere reserve.<br>Includes two [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar Wetland]] areas.
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Blanský Forest|Blanský Forest Protected Landscape Area]] || 1990 || 212 ||     || 
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Šumava National Park]] || 1991 || 681 || Category II || The park connects with the [[Bavarian Forest National Park]] in Germany.<br>UNESCO biosphere reserve.
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Český les Protected Landscape Area|Bohemian Forest Protected Landscape Area]] || 2005 || 473 ||     || 
|-
| Czech Republic || [[Slavkov Forest]] || 1974 || 606 ||     ||
|-
| Poland || [[Karkonosze National Park]] || 1959 || 56 || Category II || Connects with [[Krkonoše National Park]] in Czech Republic
|-
| Poland || [[Bóbr Valley Landscape Park]] || 1989 || 109 || Category V ||
|-
| Poland || [[Rudawy Landscape Park]] || 1989 || 157 || Category V ||
|-
| Poland || [[Chełmy Landscape Park]] || 1992 || 160 || Category V ||
|-
| Poland || [[Sudety Wałbrzyskie Landscape Park]] || 1998 || 65 || Category V ||
|-
| Poland || [[Owl Mountains Landscape Park]] || 1991 || 81 || Category V ||
|-
| Poland || [[Stołowe Mountains National Park]] || 1993 || 63 || Category II ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Parc Jura vaudois]] ||    ||     ||     ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Doubs Nature Park]] ||    ||     ||     ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Chasseral Regional Park]] ||    ||     ||     ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Thal Nature Park]] ||    ||     ||     ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Aargau Jura Park]] || 2012 || 241 ||     ||
|-
| Switzerland || [[Schaffhausen Regional Nature Park]] ||    ||     ||     ||
|-
| France || [[The Ardennes Regional Nature Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-des-ardennes|title=Parc naturel régional des Ardennes|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|language=French|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 2001 || 1,172 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Lorraine Regional Natural Park]] || 1974 || 2,050 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Ballons des Vosges Nature Park]] || 1989 || 2,700 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[IllWald Forest|The IllWald, regional nature reserve]] || 2013 || 19 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park]] || 1986 || 1,641 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[The Bauges Massif Regional Nature Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-du-massif-des-bauges|title=Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|language=French|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 1995 || 856 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Chartreuse Regional Nature Park]] || 1995 || 767 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Grands Causses Natural Regional Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-des-grands-causses|title=Parc naturel régional des Grands Causses|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|language=French|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 1995 || 3,285 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Aubrac Natural Regional Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-aubrac|title=Parc naturel régional Aubrac|language=French|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 1967 || 2,207 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Auvergne Volcanos Regional Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-des-volcans-dauvergne|title=Parc naturel régional des Volcans d’Auvergne|language=French|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 1977 || 3,950 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Morvan Regional Natural Park]] || 1970 || 2,850 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Millevaches Regional Nature Park in Limousin]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parcs-naturels-regionaux.fr/parcs-naturels-regionaux/parc-naturel-regional-de-millevaches-en-limousin|title=Parc naturel régional de Millevaches en Limousin|language=French|publisher=Fédération des Parcs naturels régionaux de France|accessdate=11 September 2019}}</ref> || 2004 || 3,140 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Orient Forest Regional Natural Park|Forêt d'Orient Regional Nature Park]] || 1970 || 820 ||     ||
|-
| France || [[Forêts National Park]] || 2019 || 2,500 ||     ||
|}

Luxembourg maintains the [[Upper Sûre Natural Park]], but this park covers mostly the Upper Sûre Lake, an artificial dam created in 1959, and no land area of significance. The lake is an important bird area. Luxembourg also holds part of the cross-border [[German-Luxembourg Nature Park]] in addition to several smaller nature reservations. Here eco-typical patches of forest are growing.

Austria does not have any protections in this ecoregion.

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{WWF ecoregion|id=pa0445|name=Western European broadleaf forests}}

== References ==
{{reflist|3}}

{{-}}
{{Paleartic temperate broadleaf and mixed forests}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Western European broadleaf forests}}
[[Category:Ecoregions of Austria]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Belgium]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Europe]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of France]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Metropolitan France]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Germany]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Poland]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Forests of the Czech Republic|*]]
[[Category:Forests of France|*]]
[[Category:Forests of Switzerland|*]]
[[Category:Forests of Luxembourg|*]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of Austria|*]]
[[Category:Forests and woodlands of Germany|*]]
[[Category:Montane forests]]
[[Category:Natural history of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Palearctic ecoregions]]
[[Category:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the Netherlands]]