Fir and Empire: The Transformation of Forests in Early Modern China.

Ian M. Miller's book, "Fir and Empire: The Transformation of Forests in Early Modern China," challenges the prevailing narrative of China's deforestation and unsustainable development. Miller argues that China experienced a phase of regenerative forestry that lasted longer than its Western counterpart. The book explores China's response to the wood crisis of the eleventh century, which led to the soft-touch state regulation of forest exploitation and the expansion of the private timber market. Miller's research is based on a meticulous survey of historical evidence, including official surveys, local gazetteers, and legal records. This new perspective on China's forest history calls for a revision of the chronology of sustainable forestry and contributes to a more global understanding of sustainability. [Extracted from the article]