There's a problem worldwide that farmers have an incentive to boycott environmental legislation. If nothing goes wrong, they earn more cash, if they fail, they get bailed out. So they want to farm every last inch of nature.
Of course this particular piece is about a crime, but it does highlight the broader problems we face.
"If you see a lovely field with a family having a picnic, and there's a nice pond in it, you fill in the pond with concrete, you plough the family into the field, you blow up the tree, and use the leaves to make a dress for your wife who's also your brother!"
Am I reading this right that these people got mere months after clear obstruction and continued fraud while working with authorities? That's barely a slap on the wrist.