The south side is the least developed, retaining the original forest along much of the shore.
However nearly all the original forest along the Mississippi has now been cleared.
It is estimated that 50% of the original forest has been lost in the last 20 years.
Less than 5% of the original forest cover remains intact.
As a result, less than one quarter of original forests remain.
More than half of the original forest has been altered.
In many areas the original forests have been cleared to make way for agriculture.
More than half of the world's original forests have been cut down or heavily damaged in the last 8,000 years.
What of equivalent value have we inherited in exchange for the original forest?
Most of the original and second-growth forests have been cut.
