Waldsterben

forest dieback

noun VALT-shter-ben Rare

Also means

dying of forests

Usage Note

Waldsterben is neuter (das Waldsterben). First coined in the 1980s for acid-rain-induced forest damage, the term returned to prominence in the 2010s-20s to describe drought- and beetle-related dieback across German forests. It is a landmark word in German environmental history.

Examples

"Das Waldsterben bedroht ganze Landschaften in Deutschland."

Natural Translation

Forest dieback threatens entire landscapes in Germany.

Literal Translation

The forest dieback threatens entire landscapes in Germany.

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