08-28-2008, 04:48 AM
I have seen pictures of areas on Oahu that are now heavily forested that were barren back in the 1800s. Sorry, I can't remember the specifics but I remember going, WOW, big difference from today. I think it is true that at least in certain areas of the contry forest cover has increased in recent decades as small local farms have decreased. I know this is true of New York State and apparently true of Hawaii. To do the analysis right we would need to quantify forest cover in Hawaii over the last few hundred years. What impact did ancient Hawaiians have on forest cover? The Easter Islanders certainly had a profound effect on their environment.
In the last 50 years forest cover may have started to increase again. It has in other parts of the country.
In the last 50 years forest cover may have started to increase again. It has in other parts of the country.