Which statement best describes the impact of western american settlement on natural resources? a) americans came to mine silver in california, then later searched for gold. b) americans depleted the forests as they cut down trees to build. c) americans bred animals for their fur, creating a new livestock industry. d) americans learned how to care for the land for future generations.

The answer is B.  Americans depleted the forests as they cut down trees to build.
During the American settlement, people need a lot of woods for building ships or for building construction that they take from the forest.
Back then, people still haven't developed a general awareness on how it could impact the environment, so they cut it down without planting the new ones back (like we do in recent years)

Bis your correct answer