Epiphytic lichen distribution on trunks of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and its dependency on chemical site conditions were studied in a montane woodland of the Harz Mountains in Northern Germany. Five forest stands were selected, which differed in injury due to forest dieback, in the type of forest management and in age. For testing the impact of forest dieback, a 160-year-old healthy (or only slightly affected) selectively-harvested forest was compared with a 150-year-old heavily damaged stand. Differences in tree damage between the stands are assumed to be due to soil conditions. The soil in the heathy stand was less acidified, whereas amounts and element content of incident precipitation did not differ between the stands.