While one might forgive tree cutting to make room for crops or to built shelters or provide fuel where no fallen branches big enough are available, the ‘beautiful green rolling hills’ of world were once covered with trees. Most countries have ruthlessly denuded the land of trees and some today have even passed laws forbidding the felling of certain native trees (like some redwoods in California or Kauris in New Zealand). We may have heard or read about the story in which Srila Prabhupada expressed anger at the cutting of the tree in Dallas Texas, although devotees protested vainly that the tree was falling in the gurukula building. In the 7th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The cutting of trees simply to manufacture paper for the publication of unwanted literature is the greatest sinful act.” (SB 7.2.12). Although some might use parts of the fourth canto (4.30.44-47) to justify tree cutting, on close reading, one finds that in general tree felling is looked down upon. The current practice of clear-cutting (lead ball and chain massive tree felling) and generally massive denuding of forests of their native trees — most of which are now gone — is a phenomenon, that has occurred over the last hundred years, usually on pretexts of overpopulation, need for housing, and need for furniture. However, if we look more closely at these excuses, we shall see that large corporations like International Paper, Weyerhauser, and the like, who breed and harvest pine in ‘tree farms,’ are filling huge warehouses with wood, creating needs that are thinly disguised desires, all with aim of being more profitable. Further, if we look at history we’ll find that even though there has been a population surge especially in large cities, over the past few hundred years, most dwellings were made of stone, brick and concrete (sand, gravel and water), straw, and other ‘earth materials’ which can be mined almost inexhaustibly, while trees are essential for oxygen, topsoil retention, lack of flooding, fertility, as well as human and animal health.