To say Indians were as harsh on the land as modern peoples is simply not so. Their numbers are too low and they can leave large areas vacant for decades. They rely on very low productivity. There must have been hundreds of millions of salmon in BC on their runs a few hundred years ago before industry arrived. Aboriginals aren't that different from Arabs who prefer a subsistence, pre-modern life chasing camels or buffalo. Romans left North Africa, and it hasn't bloomed since.
Right now, or before the rebellion, Libya imported most of its food. Not to mention importing thousands of workers to work there, much like other Arab countries. As long as they have oil they can relax and all be kings.