what destroyed the civilisation of easter island

The cause of the collapse of the civilization of Easter Island is a topic of debate among scholars. One theory is that the islanders cleared the forests for firewood and farming, and the forests did not grow back. As trees became scarce, they could no longer construct wooden canoes for fishing, and soil erosion decreased their crop yields. This led to a decrease in resources and ultimately to civil war and cannibalism. Another theory is that the settlers were not wholly responsible for the loss of the islands trees. Archaeological finds of nuts suggest that rats, which were brought to the island by Polynesian voyagers, consumed many of the palm nuts, making it difficult for trees to regrow naturally. Some scholars believe that the islanders themselves were not to blame for the ecological catastrophe, and that they went to heroic efforts to protect the resources of their wind-lashed, infertile fields. Recent research has also suggested that the Rapanui did not succumb to a downward spiral of self-destruction but instead practiced resiliency, cooperation, and perhaps even a degree of environmental stewardship. In summary, the collapse of the civilization of Easter Island was likely due to a combination of factors, including deforestation, soil erosion, resource depletion, and possibly the introduction of rats and diseases by European visitors.