The ancient Greeks were the first ecologists on the planet, based on the quality of life in the city-states they created, where other nations lived nomadically. For example, in ancient Athens, every owner had the right to cut down up to two olive trees per year.

Solon had set a reward of 5 drachmas for killing a male wolf, but only one drachma for each young wolf because the goal was to reduce, but not to exterminate the species.