The Last Tree on Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui is the original name for the small island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean that we now call Easter Island. When the Polynesians arrived around 600 years ago they found a fertile land, covered with huge palm trees. However as their population grew they used up the limited resources faster than they could be replaced... especially the trees, which they used for housing, canoe building and to move the giant stone statues. Eventually the last tree was felled, with drastic consequences... warfare, famine, loss of fertile soil, etc. Rapa Nui is so small that everyone on the island must have seen when that last tree was felled, but they felt compelled to do it nevertheless...

The Earth is but a tiny island in the middle of a vast sea of space. The parallels are obvious...