Hypnum moss (Hypnum cuppressiforme)

Species and habitat description

Mosses play an important role in the life of forests. Mosses are involved in regulating the water cycle of the forest, protecting the soil from erosion, contributing to the formation of soil. Mosses also provide habitats for other species. Rare moss species are valuable from a botanical point of view, however it is important to emphasize that the coverage of the frequent species has also been significantly reduced, thus protecting the common moss species is also crucial. One of these common species is the Hypnum moss. It can be found on soils, rock and on living and dead trees. The cypress moss is very varied in appearance. The stems may be dark green, thick and densely branched or yellowish, thin and sparsely branched.

Major threats

Due to intensive forest management and the game damage, even the cover of frequent species has been reduced, both on the ground and on the trees. Hypnum moss is also common in forests, but it is sensitive to disturbances (e.g. trampling, rooting). Mosses are also sensitive to sudden changes in the light or humidity conditions, thus a major woodcut significantly changes the microclimate, reducing the moss cover.

Specific conservation action

Untreated forest patches, game exclusion and creation of different kinds of deadwood contributes to the survival of mosses, such as cypress moss. In the project area of Nagyoroszi we will fence around 20 hectares to reduce the impact of games and enhance the development of mosses.