>
Around the beginning of the construction work, between 2022 and 2023, criticism of the project was given national media coverage, with several associations highlighting its negative environmental impact, as well as its high price for users and the fact that the current free expressways bypassing the towns of Puylaurens and Soual would be incorporated into the motorway and made toll-paying.[1][2] The project received unfavourable opinions from the National Council for the Protection of Nature [fr][3] and the Environmental Authority [fr].[4] Throughout 2023 and early 2024, demonstrations were organised, bringing together up to several thousand environmental activists. On 27 February 2025, the administrative court of Toulouse annulled the environmental permits, leading to the suspension of the construction work.[5] On 28 May, the administrative court of appeal of Toulouse, allowed the work to resume awaiting the final judgement planned for the 11 December 2025.[6]* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A69_highway_(France)
Seems to illustrate my point: large projects are high profile and may be scrutinized. People making changes to the local environment in ones and twos will hardly be noticed individually, but if enough ones and twos are added up over time, in aggregate they can cause problems.
* https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/09/visitors-remin...
* https://friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/dont-move-rocks/
* https://www.hrwc.org/stop-stacking-rocks-in-the-river/
Certainly not as serious as oil spills or climate change, but it is also simpler for you to deal with than you trying to solve those two big issues: all you have to do is not touch/move the stones/rocks.