'the environment'
an environment is usually associated with a creature or creatures.
the idea of 'the environment' as it's own life form is creative use of language to con people such as yourself into believeing as if 'the environment' is a person, more important than the creatures that live in it.
the whole idea of 'what it was before ' is also a fiction.
'native plants' are those plants that were cataloged but . . . that was just a passing moment.
the idea of 'rewilding' is another fiction.
it' was all made up to allow for regulators to gain title to other people's lands.