American Deforestation (19th Century)
Sawmills operated day and night as eastern forests fell to American expansion. Settlers viewed trees as obstacles rather than vital resources. Timber became America’s first major industry, transforming landscapes at unprecedented speed. Hillsides stripped bare led to massive soil erosion. Rivers choked with sediment. Some regions lost 90% of their forest cover before conservation efforts began addressing the ecological damage that permanently altered American watersheds.
