For what were the areas used before being turned into wood plantations? The sentiment in this thread seems to be that it was, or could have been, thriving green

For what were the areas used before being turned into wood plantations? The sentiment in this thread seems to be that it was, or could have been, thriving green wildlife, but werent those areas formerly designated for commercial use as well? The article explicitly mentions farmland. Thats not really a functioning ecosystem either.