Bare trees Quote by Charles C. Mann
““Because they did not burn the land with the same skill and frequency as its previous occupants, the forests grew thicker. Left untended, maize fields filled in with weeds, then bushes and trees. My ancestor Billington’s great-grandchildren may not have realized it, but the impenetrable sweep of dark forest admired by Thoreau was something that Billington never saw. Later, of course, Europeans stripped New England almost bare of trees.””
About This Quote
Source Book: 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Charles C. Mann, 2005
Human activity reshapes ecosystems; abandonment leads to rewilding, while later exploitation can cause deforestation.
In simple terms: Land changes with human use.
Key Takeaway
Balance stewardship and natural regrowth.
Themes
environment
history
human impact
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
historical
environmental
When to use this quote
- forest conservation
- agricultural planning
- urban rewilding
- restoration projects
Key Concepts
ecology
succession
colonialism
land use
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we integrate traditional knowledge in land management?
- What policies prevent rewilding after abandonment?
A Different Perspective
Human neglect can also cause ecological harm.
![“Gifford Pinchot points out that in colonial and pioneer days the forest was a foe and an obstacle to the settler. It had to be cleared away... But [now] as a nation we have not yet come to have a proper respect for the forest and to regard it as an indispensable part of our resources-one which is…” quote by Richard E. Blackwelder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/28f/richard-e-blackwelder-67893_benefits_gifford-pinchot-points-out-that-in-colon_2900675.jpg)
![“[...] a sigh fit for the pillow, the sinking firelight, and a bedroom window open to the stars and the whisper of bare trees.” quote by Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/910/evelyn-waugh-850_quote_a-sigh-fit-for-the-pillow-the-sinking-fi_2984231.jpg)