Beech forests and mixed beech forests in the Spessart Mountains have areas with old beech trees, that are ecologically particularly valuable. Deciduous forests, as a CO2 sink, are of importance for the climate and provide home to numerous animal and plant species.
The area is part of the public forests in the Bavarian Spessart Mountains. As owner of these forests, the Bavarian State refuses to provide information about the exact location and management of old beech and deciduous forests in this part of Spessart Mountains. Greenpeace demands that logging in public forests is immediately stopped in all deciduous forests with beech trees older than 140 years, until an agreement is made protecting 10 percent of the German public forests from any forestry uses.