Evelyn's Sylva, or a Discourse on Forest Trees

In his book Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest Trees, John Evelyn (1620–1706), a British landscape architect and author, warned that continued growth of glassworks and iron industries would have dramatic consequences for British timber resources. He vehemently advocated an extensive reforestation program and the systematic foundation of forests and parks in England. Evelyn received a lot of attention for his assertion that careless deforestation would cause the downfall of the British fleet, which was heavily dependent on wood. His writings reflected a sense of responsibility towards future generations and Sylva is now perceived as one of the most important precursors of modern sustainability discourse.