The United States encouraged widespread planting of Russian olive trees during the 1900s to create windbreaks and wildlife habitat, but the trees spread along western rivers, replacing native cottonwood forests and altering bird communities

In the middle of the twentieth century, rural areas in the western United States faced severe environmental conditions. Strong winds blew freely on the prairie lands and took the fertile topsoil with them, posing a threat to the new settlements being developed there. They turned to natural barriers to protect farms from the harsh conditions. They planted a hardy tree species native to Eurasia with silver leaves, fast growth and spring flowers.

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