Evidence from the central rain forests of south America have indicated that the Mayan's contributred to the decline of the environment 2,000 years ago and continue to do so now. The Mayan's advances in rural and urban infrastructure altered the ecosystems of tropical forests. They deeply impacted climate, vegetation, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, co-author and chair of the Department of Geography and the Environment stated that "Mayas interacted with their environment, as well as the scope of their activity,". These interactions created erosion. Moreover, the Mayan's also caused deforestation by clearing lands to grow crops in order to sustain the population. Lastly, this shows that humans have had interactions with the environment and its natural resources since the beginnings of the first civilizations and their impacts on the environment continue to affect the environment today.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150903131545.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150903131545.htm