With the expansion of the money supply, the economy was artificially expanded which led to high demand and high time preference. As a result a lot of cheap (young) wood was sold. Since high quality wood takes decades to grow, producers try to find cheaper alternatives. Further, property rights aren't maintained well under leaders without higher purpose who plan 4 year terms instead of seven generations into the future. It is no coincidence that the century of total exploitation of the planet coincides with the century of central banking.