When The Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont's Forests

Although long recognized as the “Green Mountain State,” Vermont’s hillsides were once nearly completely bare. By the 1880s, unsustainable logging and farming practices had decimated its once-dense forests, with enormous environmental consequences.

When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests tells the story of how a group of dedicated advocates, citizens, and lawmakers turned the tide at the dawn of the 20th century. It explains how their efforts contributed to the remarkable recovery of Vermont’s forests, and provides lessons for protecting our forests in an uncertain future.  

Praise for When the Trees Came Back 

It is so good to have an account of the resurrection of the forests of Vermont--one of the fairly few hopeful stories on a planet that's mostly turned brown in the last century!

— Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization

By far the most comprehensive account of the history of Vermont’s forests ever published. Robert A. Mello deftly guides the reader through centuries of change, highlighting the complex moments and the people that created the forests that now define the Green Mountain State, both ecologically and culturally. Mello’s story is one of loss and of regeneration, setbacks and reform. A must-read for historians and forest lovers alike.”

— Ethan Tapper, author of How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World

Robert Mello’s When the Trees Came Back is an impressive achievement. It is a deeply researched and compelling account of one of Vermont’s most consequential—and least appreciated—environmental stories. Drawing on extensive historical sources, Robert Mello traces the arc of forest use, misuse, collapse, and recovery with clarity, nuance, and insight. What could have been a dry recitation of facts instead becomes a coherent and engaging narrative, as Mello skillfully weaves data, policy, and human decision-making into a story rich with context and meaning. This book offers not only a clearer understanding of Vermont’s forest history since European settlement, but also a thoughtful perspective on stewardship, resilience, and the long-term consequences of how we treat the land.

— Michael Snyder, licensed forester, former commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and author of Wood Whys: An Exploration of Forests and Forestry

Paperback, 2026. $24.95.

Preorder the book from our online store, at our museum stores in Montpelier or Barre, and at select booksellers in Vermont. You can also preorder the eBook edition from Amazon, iBooks, and Kobo. (Check back for other stores)