New England forests regenerated to 60% coverage after 1800s logging

New England had almost completely lost its forests by the 1800s after centuries of logging, farming, and settlement expansion.

The region's forests naturally regenerated over two centuries in one of history's greatest forest recoveries, now covering about 60% of New England.

The recovery was driven by farm abandonment, westward migration, and industrialization, but not large-scale tree planting.

Ecological succession, starting with grasses and shrubs then pioneer trees like eastern white pine, rebuilt the forests naturally.