I think I understand the economic reasons why developers cut down every tree on a lot on which they are going to build—both residential and commercial. But I can’t understand the shortsightedness of ruining a landscape. Drainage, air quality, beauty, shade, etc, etc.
I felt so very seen and heard when I read this Scripture passage today…
When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human, that they should be besieged by you? Only the trees that you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.
— Deuteronomy 20
Thanks Alan Jacobs and gospelofthetrees.net!