When there is not a unified law, then anything goes as long as those who see the offending action don't care (due to similar beliefs or ignorance, or both), even when that action is destructive, either short term or long term. But when there is a unified law, there is generally a more unified effort to uphold that law (or regulation). Can you think of anything that could be destructive, but which your neighbors might look the other way?
Well, that depends on how you define "destructive"
I can smash glass bottles all day in my back yard, and my neighbors won't care. While that's certainly destructive, it's destructive of only my own property. Now, If I were to start burning tires, that would be a different matter entirely.
What about future owners of your land who aren't aware of all the broken glass that hides underneath the leaves until something happens to one of their children? Or a stray dog that wanders through? Or wolves, coyotes, rabbits, etc?
That's an excellent example, if a little offbeat. Let's try another one: deforestation. We'll assume that your neighbors are also into deforestation as well, thus they don't have any issues with it.
Here's a real example: removal of oak trees in California.
If both I, and
all my neighbors were "into" deforestation, then removing the trees would not be destructive. It would improve the value of the land in mine and their eyes. Of course, that deforestation would not have only localized effects. I'd have to take into account the wide-ranging effects of my clearcutting my land, as well, and if someone is damaged by those effects, that would be my responsibility.
Going back to the broken glass in my back yard, If I fail to tell any future owners of the broken glass, and someone gets hurt, again, that's on me - my actions, and my failure to act (inform the owner of the danger) have caused damages, and I need to pay restitution. Wildlife and stray animals, however, are not my concern. They came onto my property. If they are someone's property, care should be taken not to let them wander where they might get hurt.
