With about 428 ha the Bannwald Schwarzahalden is one of the largest protected forest areas in Baden-Württemberg. The forest areas in the municipalities of Höchenschwand and Ühlingen-Birkendorf are owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg and the municipality of Ühlingen-Birkendorf. The district forest office Waldshut is responsible for forestry with the forest districts south in Waldshut and east in Stühlingen.
The Bannwald area extends to both sides of the Schwarza and Fohrenbach valleys at an altitude between 620 m and 960 m above sea level. The average annual precipitation is between 620 and 1000 mm. The aim of the protection is the uninfluenced, spontaneous development of the forest with its animal and plant species and the guarantee of the scientific observation of this development.