Spains (and much of Europe's) old growth forests were also almost completely denuded much earlier than that to build most of the Roman Empire, and its vast mining operations, naval flotillas and so forth. Yet they grew back to again disappear roughly around the Renaissance over 1000 years later.
The interesting thing is that many modern popular social discussions (and even some pop sci arguments) speak of old growth forests as irreplaceable things that, if cut down, pretty much disappear when history clearly shows that this isn't true.
I don't defend cutting them down just because, but I think it's good to be honest about their ability to come back.
The interesting thing is that many modern popular social discussions (and even some pop sci arguments) speak of old growth forests as irreplaceable things that, if cut down, pretty much disappear when history clearly shows that this isn't true.
I don't defend cutting them down just because, but I think it's good to be honest about their ability to come back.