Waldsterben
/ˈvaltˌʃtɛːb(ə)n
/ /ˈvaltˌʃtɛrbn/noun [mass noun]
Disease and death in forest trees in central Europe as a result of atmospheric pollution: the politicians of Europe were galvanized by Waldsterben unlike any environmental issue...
- Acid rain from fossil-fuel pollution damaged the forest that remained so much that the term Waldsterben (forest death) was coined a few decades ago.
- In the case of Waldsterben in central Europe, three types of symptoms typify the recent changes that have taken place in many species of trees under a wide variety of ecological conditions.
- Back in the 80s I did several feature stories for American Forests Magazine on Waldsterben.
Origin
1980s: from German, from Wald 'forest' + Sterben 'death'.