[Never on my watch]

Lately I have been reading and researching the Civil War and have been looking at many of the surviving photographs of that time. What was striking to me was how barren the landscapes seemed. Since many trees were cleared for farms, building materials, and firewood, there was a lot more open landscape than you see today. Somehow the forests reclaimed the land without the help of the Sierra Club. Seems like the environmentalists should thank the coal industry for decreasing America's dependence on domestic firewood.

[Upstate NY Guy]

Very good point. Exactly right. And burning lots of coal will help forests grow all over the world.

Free market industrialized societies lead to increased prosperity and a healthier natural environment.

[woodbutcher1963]

Fact:
New Hampshire in 1860 was 80% cleared for farminland.

Today NH is 80+ % forested.

There are woods all around here that have old stone walls running right through the middle of them. These woods were formerly corn fields, pastures and orchards. My property was an orchard/pasture field up until 1972. Now it is yard and woods.