Assarting
Encyclopedia
Assarting is the act of clearing
forest
ed lands for use in agriculture
or other purposes. In English law
, it was illegal to assart any part of a Royal forest
. This was the greatest trespass
that could be committed in a forest, being more than a waste: for whereas waste of the forest involves felling
trees and other shrubbery, this vegetation can grow again; assarting involves completely rooting up all trees — the total extirpation
of the forested area.
The term "assart" was also used for a parcel of land assarted. Assart rents were those paid to the British Crown
for the forest lands assarted.
Many Northern French places called Les Essarts
or ending with -sart refer to that practice.
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed lands for use in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
or other purposes. In English law
English law
English law is the legal system of England and Wales, and is the basis of common law legal systems used in most Commonwealth countries and the United States except Louisiana...
, it was illegal to assart any part of a Royal forest
Royal forest
A royal forest is an area of land with different meanings in England, Wales and Scotland; the term forest does not mean forest as it is understood today, as an area of densely wooded land...
. This was the greatest trespass
Trespass
Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels and trespass to land.Trespass to the person, historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding, mayhem, and maiming...
that could be committed in a forest, being more than a waste: for whereas waste of the forest involves felling
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
trees and other shrubbery, this vegetation can grow again; assarting involves completely rooting up all trees — the total extirpation
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
of the forested area.
The term "assart" was also used for a parcel of land assarted. Assart rents were those paid to the British Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
for the forest lands assarted.
Many Northern French places called Les Essarts
Les Essarts
Les Essarts is the name of several places in France:It is the name of several communes:* Les Essarts, in the Eure département* Les Essarts, in the Loir-et-Cher département* Les Essarts, in the Vendée département...
or ending with -sart refer to that practice.