An attempt was made to record the locations of as many phorophytes of the epiphytic moss Dicranum viride as possible in the forests on Maulbronn's territory and to make the data available to the forest and nature conservation administration as a basis for suitable protection measures. 667 phorophytes, 21 beech stumps, 2 pieces of cut tree trunks and 3 branch pieces with green fork tooth moss, Dicranum viride (Sull. & Lesq.) Lindb [36] , were mapped on an area of about 650 hectares of forest, south of Maulbronn from mid of 2019 to February 2024. The northern parts of the woodlands at Maulbronn are still not completely investigated so far. However as til now only 22 phorophytes were found, it seems that Dicranum viride is much less present north of the Salzach valley.
The investigated forest areas are historic, former monastery forests with a very long management tradition. 65 % of the phorophytes are beech, 19 % oak, 14 % hornbeam. In addition, there are small numbers of black alder, service tree and sycamore maple trees.
Phorophytes were found mainly in mature mixed beech and oak forests, in shallow, waterlogged depressions (valley exits) along small creeks, close to historical water ditches and ponds and the ditch of the historic fortification Eppingen line.
The importance of various animal species, which play an indispensable role for preservation of the occurrences through the dispersal of leaf fragments, is discussed. The moss pads on the phorophytes can also be read as long-standing traces of animals. Populations of Dicranum viride can be preserved if the ongoing losses of phorophytes can be compensated by new colonization.
In the Maulbronn forests, Dicranum viride can be seen as an indicator for long habitat continuity in former coppice forests and as an indicator of biodiversity hotspots (epiphytic mosses, deadwood, habitat tree groups).
Knowledge of the locations of phorophytes and the degree of colonization on individual tree trunks can help long-term preservation of populations by consistent application and intensification of the AUT concept (retention forestry, coarse woody debris) of forest administraton (Forst BW) in those areas. Due to climate change and the resulting massive drought damage to the main phorophyte species beech, large parts of the Dicranum viride population in Maulbronn are expected to be lost in the next two decades, despite all conservation efforts.