Nah that’s wrong, this is pervasive in every culture and throughout history. Every generation complains about the next because they don’t do the same things the same way as the previous one. Entire countries did this, a kingdom that was less prosperous or lost territory was failing and in decline.

I think the root cause is an innate human fear of change and loss.

Destroyed no matter the cause? I’ve heard of laws like that for intentionally cutting down healthy trees, but it never applied to natural causes.