Chainsaw massacres

Every year at this time in Brittany the silence is broken by the sound of the chainsaw. The trees are massacred. I have asked many times why?
 I received various replies.

1) Years ago farm workers were allowed to cut of the branches to use for firewood but allowed the tree to continue to grow.

2) The branches were cut from oak trees so that the trunk would grow straight so that it could be used for beams in house building.

3) Trees at the side of roads and at the edge of cultivated fields had to be controlled, not allowed to overhang and should be kept under a maximum height.
 Since more and more houses have central heating logs for burning are less needed.
Many new houses are being built which do not use oak beams in their construction.
I can understand that trees near roads and at the edge of fields need to be trimmed but not massacred and sometimes completely uprooted.
I see so much felling of trees but I have yet to see any planting.
My theory is that years ago before mechanisation and the dreadful chain saw came into being this destruction was not possible.
 Now even though times have changed so many men enjoy their yearly macho chain saw massacre.