14824: LeGrace Benson: deforestation

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: LeGrace Benson <legrace@twcny.rr.com>

>From  egrace@twcny.rr.com

In 1790 de Wimpffen wrote of "...the work of men, in despoiling the lands
of
trees that cover it and thus provoking an extraordinary evaporation...not
only
altering its nourishing principle byt moreover has produced a notable
revolution in he climate...The revolutions has become fatal to the
fertility of
the fields" In 1797-98, Moreau de st.-Mery said ,"The droughts are
becoming
longer and more frequent. This comes of a greediness that counts the
future for
nothing..People have cut down the trees ...which summoned the life-giving
rains..."  Other early visitors made similar reports. Descourtilz also
regretted that the native animals seems to be fast disappearing, to be
replaced
by imported domestic animals gone feral. I leave the logic of causality to
others on the list.