ABSTRACT
The Black Forest sits on one of Germany's oldest geologic formations. Although dozens of generations of Germans have cut trees, mined for resources, and grazed livestock in the Black Forest region, two human activities in particular applied the greatest pressure on the ecosystem. Acid rain has been one of the biggest hurdles for Black Forest managers, because it does not originate in the south western region. Liquid sulfuric acid saturates tree roots and prevents the trees from absorbing calcium and magnesium. During the thirteenth century, regional economic growth led peasant settlements to clear 70 percent of the forested lands to supply charcoal and wood to growing European cities. After several regional conflicts, two world wars, and the lengthy cold war, today's Germany is a global industrial power with a prominent international role in the United Nations and a regional one in the European Union.
