A better way to protect a forest, particularly
old growth forests in remote areas, is to obtain a part of it and to live on and monitor the purchased land. Even in the United States, these measures sometimes do not suffice because
arson can burn a forest to the ground, leaving burnt areas free for different use. Another issue about living on purchased forest-land is that there may not be a suitable site for a standard home without clearing land, which defies the purpose of protection. Alternatives include building a
treehouse or an
earthhouse. This is being done currently by
indigenous people in South America to protect large
reservoirs. In former times, North American
Native Americans used to live in
tipies or
mandan earthhouses, which also require less land. An undertaking to develop modern treehouses is being taken by a company from Germany called "TrueSchool treehouses". ==Other methods of protection==