The sabbatical year also has ecological benefits. The land was given a chance to rest and renew its fertility. Judaism asserts that there is one God who created the entire earth as a unity, in ecological balance, and that everything is connected to everything else. The preservation of the land of Israel has been a central theme in Judaism. Jews pray for dew and rain in their proper time so that there will be abundant harvests in Israel.
Jewish tradition militates against abuse of natural resources and the environment.
The Torah mandates that we are not to waste or destroy unnecessarily anything of value. This prohibition against destroying fruit-bearing trees in time of warfare was extended by the Jewish sages. In summary, bal tashchit prohibits the destruction, complete or incomplete, direct or indirect, of all objects of potential benefit to people. Baba Kamma 91b Jews should be taught when very young that it is a sin to waste even small amounts of food. One ate coarse bread and vegetables, while the other ate fine bread, fat meat, and drank old wine.