Same exact thing is going on in Lebanon today.Most people crapped on their land and mixed it up with urine to use as fertiliser on their crops.
Iraq used to be covered in forests but the locals chopped all the trees down in the 50s & 60s when oil barrens took over. They needed the wood for cooking and to stay warm because they didn't have any heating/ cooking oil or money. Now the place is a desert with very little vegetation.