In photos: Protesters block highway construction in German forest

Dozens of police officers were deployed to the Dannenroeder forest north of Frankfurt to protect the workers and to remove the activists, who built tree houses and erected barricades in the area to try to prevent the felling of trees to build a road.

Police officers are seen as demonstrators lie in hammocks hanging from trees during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

Special Police officers try to get an environmental activist down from a tree during a protest against the expansion of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Oct. 2, 2020.

Police officers prepare to clear wooden barricades to make way for the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany Nov. 10, 2020.

Police officers detain an environmental activist protesting against the expansion of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Oct. 2, 2020.

A police officer carries a part of an activists' camp that blocks the way for the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany Nov. 10, 2020. The writing reads: "Clearing tank."

Police officers stroll through the protesters' camp as demonstrators sleep ahead of a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

German activist Carola Rackete attends a protest as demonstrators block the way for the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 10, 2020.

A banner hangs from a treehouse at the activists' camp that blocks the way for the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 10, 2020. The banner reads: "For humans and nature. Forest and water protection instead of asphalt desert."

A banner is seen as a protester sits on a treehouse to block the way for the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 10, 2020.

Police officers clear barricades during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

Demonstrators erect wooden barricades during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.

A view shows a lit candle left on a tree stump by activists after a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Police officers lead a demonstrator away from the protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

A view shows a tree stump with paint marking nails hammered in by demonstrators so the tree wouldn't be cut by a chainsaw, during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

A demonstrator sits in a lone tree, with cut down trees in the background, in a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

A police officer walks with a demonstrator away from the protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Police officers carry a demonstrator away from the protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Protesters sit on wooden platforms during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Police officers pull down an activist from a hammock during a protest against the fall of the Dannenroeder forest for a highway near Niederklein, Germany, Nov. 12, 2020.

Special police officers stand in the basket of a crane next to a treehouse during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Police officers walk under activists, hanging in a wooden tripod and hammocks during a protest against the fall of the Dannenroeder forest for a highway near Niederklein, Germany on Nov. 12, 2020.

Protesters sit on wooden platforms during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany on Nov. 17, 2020.

Police officers try to get demonstrators down from hammocks during a protest against the extension of the A49 motorway, in a forest near Stadtallendorf, Germany, Nov. 11, 2020.