In The Pioneers, what unique role does the vast, unexplored wilderness contribute to the complexity of America in the pioneer days?

In The Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper, the unexplored wilderness of New York State makes life complicated for both the long-term residents of the wilderness—like the Mohicans—and the residents who recently settled there, who spend their days working the land. They fight with each other over the land, and they fight over how the wilderness should be treated; this conflict includes the interests of John Mohegan, whose Mohican ancestry gives him reason to claim the land, the interests of the agrarian workers who have settled the land, like Billy Kirby, and the interests of the slightly higher class of people represented by Judge Temple, who also feel a sense of ownership over the land.
One relationship that illustrates the complexity of this situation at this time in history is the relationship between Judge Temple and Billy Kirby, who earns money clearing the land. The judge feels a sense of protectiveness over the wilderness, he thanks Providence for the gifts of nature, and wonders if he should have the attitude of a conservationist. Billy Kirby, on the other hand, feels he has the right to profit off the land, and he treats the land as a commodity.
For example, Billy guiltlessly takes elements of the wilderness, like maple sap for syrup, and removes them from the wilderness, taking them to the town and selling them for his own profit. This choice violates nature, according to the judge, and Judge Temple scolds Billy for ravaging the trees for his personal benefit. Billy also abuses the population of bass when fishing for sport, and Judge Temple struggles with the wastefulness of Billy's games. How can Billy squander such a valuable natural resource like fish for fun?
These two competing attitudes toward nature and the bounty of the vast wilderness represent the complexity of America during these pioneer days; after all, in the earliest days of settlement, who gets to decide how to use the land and to what end? The answer is not an easy one, not now and certainly not back then, and the difficulties of these kinds of questions made pioneer days in America a complex time for many.