> The states of California and Alaska each individually have more wild forest lands than the entire European continent. But that's not b/c of actions of local

> The states of California and Alaska each individually have more wild forest lands than the entire European continent. But that's not b/c of actions of local residents. > The US created the concept of state-protected wilderness reserves and national parks. That's quite incorrect, e.g. from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bia%C5%82owie%C5%BCa_Forest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bia%C5%82owie%C5%BCa_Forest The forest was declared a hunting reserve in 1541 to protect bison. In 1557, the forest charter was issued, under which a special board was established to examine forest usage. In 1639, King Vladislaus IV issued the "Białowieża royal forest decree" (Ordynacja Puszczy J.K. Mości leśnictwa Białowieskiego). The document freed all peasants living in the forest in exchange for their service as osocznicy, or royal foresters. They were also freed of taxes in exchange for taking care of the forest. The forest was divided onto 12 triangular areas (straże) with a centre in Białowieża.