There was a myth that started in the 70s that forests and other ecosystems would **regrow back to what they were **if they were left alone.

It was never an idea backed by science and the myth has since been debunked.

I suspect that it was an idea started and spread by the logging and mining industries to make their destruction seem not so bad, and thus we wouldn’t protest as much and politicians would be more likely to say yes to their industry demands.