| Human civilizations have had great impact on the earth's forests for the last 5000 years. Timber for ships and buildings, and fuel for making bronze and iron, as well as heat for dwellings, consumed huge areas of forest as civilizations spread. In addition, everything from wheels and barrels, to tool handles and furniture were also made of wood. |
| In turn, as long ago as 2500 B.C., the effects of deforestation shaped human civilizations. The ancient Sumerian empires along the lower Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were seriously affected by siltation and salinization caused by extensive cutting of the forests in their headwaters. A sharp decrease in agricultural yields lead to the decline of Sumer by 2000 B.C. |
Human civilizations have been shaping (and shaped by) the forests for thousands of years. Photo Credit Corel Photo Clipart CD.
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