Cheile Nerei-Beușnița

The component part is situated in the South-Western Carpathians. Wild streams have cut deep into the limestone. The landscape is characterised by deep gorges and steep slopes, with rock formations as well as caves and sinkholes as karst phenomena. One of the largest primeval forests of temperate Europe grows here, with natural dynamics and an undisturbed evolution. Imposing firs and yews are interspersed in primeval beech forests with over 300 years old beech. The herb layer impresses with its diversity of orchids. The forest mosaic is enriched by oak-hornbeam forests and forests of slopes, screes and ravines, and the high biodiversity by numerous endemic animal and plant species.

• UNESCO recognition: 2017
• Protected area: Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park
• Beech forest region: Carpathian
• Area: 4,292.27 ha
• Number of component parts: 1
• Altitudinal range: planar to montane (150 – 1,150 m above sea level)
• Fauna: Brown bear, Wolf, Lynx, European wildcat, Golden eagle, Lesser spotted eagle, Geoffroy's bat, Eagle owl, Syrian woodpecker, Alpine longhorn beetle, Hermit beetle