Yes, it's the same sad story again and again. The Middle East, North Africa, and the entire Mediterranean rim were basically pretty much wrecked ecologically speaking over a period of about 1,000 years...because the Romans, Greeks, Carthaginians, Egyptians, and the other organized inhabitants of that area cut down all the forests to build thousands and thousands of wooden ships so they could make war on one another.

It happens everywhere people go. They cut down the forests and they strip the land of valuable minerals. When it's gone, they look for the next place to do the same thing to.