A forest has similar properties to a fishery: as long as it’s managed correctly it’s a renewable resource, but if it’s overtaxed once without replanting, then it can be accidentally converted into plains, which are worthless. This seems like something that could happen in a lot of forests at once, in an environment where long-term institutions have collapsed.
Cutting trees on hillsides could easily lead to erosion and the destruction of the soil—agreed. But we’re looking at a process that impacted all of Europe, from ~300AD to ~1800AD. I doubt a large cause of that is ‘Permanent Roman Forest Destruction’. It seems most plausible to me that the land was used for other purposes.
A forest has similar properties to a fishery: as long as it’s managed correctly it’s a renewable resource, but if it’s overtaxed once without replanting, then it can be accidentally converted into plains, which are worthless. This seems like something that could happen in a lot of forests at once, in an environment where long-term institutions have collapsed.
Cutting trees on hillsides could easily lead to erosion and the destruction of the soil—agreed. But we’re looking at a process that impacted all of Europe, from ~300AD to ~1800AD. I doubt a large cause of that is ‘Permanent Roman Forest Destruction’. It seems most plausible to me that the land was used for other purposes.