More but different trees. The old hardwoods are gone, replaced by fast growing pine, aspen, etc.
Tree growth goes in eras. If you watched the same plot of ground over a 1000 year period, you would naturally see various phases of hardwood and softwood growth over and over again, affected by bugs, people, animals, weather, fire, global warming and cooling.
Did you figure that all out on your own? Or did you do some exhaustive research that revealed that with more trees now, they weren't OLD growth? You know, cuz all those trees that are around now that weren't here in 1910, I'm sure you would have *thought* they were old growth.
“More but different trees. The old hardwoods are gone, replaced by fast growing pine, aspen, etc.”
Yep. Those old growth trees sure came in handy when we were building the greatest nation ever!
True that the great climax forests which greeted the settlers are gone, but the hardwoods are not exactly scarce. While lumber companies plant softwood for harvest, natural progression allows other growth to revive with maple-beech and oak-hickory stands spreading slowly and patiently to reclaim their place in parks and national forests.
Sadly, the great American chestnut, the most impressive tree of the continent east of redwood country, seems gone for good.