Over Here
in Oz. We have ferocious legislation to protect all sorts of things from heritage sites to vegetation and trees.

But the builders just go ahead and cut the trees down, knock down a listed building and absorb the fines. They're rarely over $10 000 - a pittance compared to the value of the development.

cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 11:27, 1 reply)

They do that here, too
There was once a grand but derelict building, which developers wanted to demolish. It was home to a colony of bats - which I know because I was dragged to a demo by my animal-rights-fanatic girlfriend of the time.

Amazingly, the council agreed with the muesli-eaters, and refused planning permission. So, naturally, they pulled it down anyway and paid the fine.

A few years later I ended up working in the new building - one that I demonstrated to prevent being built!
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 1 Mar 2012, 11:35, closed)