- Convincing arguments speak for the protection of moss
- Protected species in Germany - A representative overview
Their unassuming appearance and widespread status as weeds doesn't exactly put mosses at the center of popular conservation. Nevertheless, moss needs protection. Numerous red lists in Germany and Europe list endangered moss species. Here we explain why this is the case and which mosses should be treated with care.
Moss may only be taken from nature in small quantities
Convincing arguments speak for the protection of moss
The profile tells us that mosses have been colonizing the earth for almost 400 million years. As a result of extensive urbanization, the rootless terrestrial plants are now in decline and some are threatened with extinction. It must not come to that, because moss is an indispensable part of mother nature for these reasons:
- As a pioneer plant, greens inhospitable locations that are avoided by other plants
- Provides food and shelter for insects
- Serves as valuable nesting material for birds
- Is indispensable as a microhabitat for small creatures and fungi
- Acts as an important indicator plant
In addition, it was demonstrated in 2007 that mosses can absorb pollutants over their entire leaf surface. The terrestrial plants thus make a significant contribution to filtering harmful fine dust from the air.
Protected species in Germany - A representative overview
Of the 1,121 mosses native to Germany, 54 species have already become extinct. Currently, 335 moss species are considered to be threatened with extinction or endangered. If this trend is not stopped, biodiversity is at stake. Therefore, the following species are subject to the protection of the European FFH Directive (Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive) by assigning them special protection areas:
| Species name (German) | species name (botanical) | status |
|---|---|---|
| Three-man dwarf lung moss | Mannia triandra | unknown condition |
| Varnished sickle moss | Hamatocaulis vernicosus | endangered |
| Keeled two-leaf moss | Distichophyllum carinatum | highly endangered |
| Green Forktooth Moss | Dicranum viride | vulnerable in continental regions |
| Green goblin moss | Buxbaumia viridis | lost |
| hair claw moss | Dichelyma capillaceum | highly endangered |
| Ball Horn Moss | Notothylas orbicularis | vulnerable in continental regions |
| Kartner spade moss | Scapania carinthiaca | endangered in alpine regions |
| Lapland sickle moss | Hamatocaulis lapponicus | unknown condition |
| Long stemmed swan neck moss | Meesia longiseta | endangered |
| Rogers hooded moss | Orthotrichum rogeri | critically endangered in Atlantic regions |
| Rudolf's trumpet moss | Tayloria rudolphiana | endangered in alpine regions |
| Vosges broken moss | Bruchia vogesiaca | endangered |
In addition, all species of the genera Sphagnum, Hylocomium and Leucobryum are subject to strict nature protection in Germany.
tips
Since moss is a nature reserve, hobby gardeners are right to ask: Can I take moss from nature to plant it in the garden? For this purpose, the legislator has stipulated that moss may be collected in small quantities for private use in the forest. An exception applies to the explicitly designated protected areas. Extraction for commercial purposes is generally not permitted.