Live on in a forest. Cool idea.

More places are doing this since I first heard about it several years ago- Look up natural or green burial. I have looked into it for myself, and personally think it is a great idea. I learned a lot about the crazy amount of resources that the funeral industry uses in the U.S as well. Also, I don't think most of your "concerns" are valid. You mentioned natural burial ground running out of plots - how is that any different then current burial grounds? Also, the ones in my area have long-term plans to be a park. Even if they did what (I'm assuming you sarcastically) suggested and cut down the trees, they very well could sell lumber and restart since there are no concrete and metal and other substances in the ground. As for trees taking up space, the natural burial grounds have that accounted for and have spots properly spaced out. Not sure why you think that isn't possible? And depending on the types of trees, forests definitely have trees closer than 10-20+ feet apart.

You missed the main point entirely, but maybe I just wasn't clear enough. Not once did I say it isn't possible. I'm sure there are a few places that are doing this since there is money to be gotten in this specific market. However, the amount of money is significantly less than in your standard burial in a standard cemetery. They can put significantly more bodies in a regular cemetery than they can plant trees. Of course forests have trees closer than 10-20 feet apart. They also have trees 30, 40, or 50 feet apart. You have tree clusters or rings of trees that form. But then the next closest trees to them are much farther away. I'm sure they plan that accordingly when designing the park cemeteries. But, and this is a big but, land is limited. Here's a sizing guide for trees: https://www.arborday.org/trees/righttreeandplace/size.cfm On the other hand normal plots can be placed 6-12 inches apart.

So without a major change in what our society deems important this is not something that's ever going to be anything more than a passing fad.

The money does not have to be less. A very large portion of what you are paying for in a typically funeral is the embalming, coffin, headstone, etc. Since natural burial does use any of those, it cuts on cost to both the business and the consumer so more money can be put towards the actual burial spot. And I do think that there is a societal change in this regard. When I first heard about this years ago, it wasn't really a concept at all and now there are more and more places doing it. As we need more sustainable practices and as more people learn about this, I do think this practice will continue to grow and become more normal/typical practice.