Delay forest protection a decade or 2 in USA

The United States, for a long time, kept pushing west to the frontier, with little regard for preserving the environment. Eventually, the frontier closed, and people realized that they had to preserve at least some natural areas and the environment as a whole. How much damage could be done if this movement was delayed a decade or 2? Would we have many forests left? How long could it have been delayed?
 
WI forestry companies bought land? That would force them to consider productivity on a 50 year scale, forcing them to consider selective logging, re-planting, etc.
 
WI forestry companies bought land? That would force them to consider productivity on a 50 year scale, forcing them to consider selective logging, re-planting, etc.

That would set the conservation ahead, not behind. It is a cool POD in and of itself however.
 
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