LOL interesting to see this discussion here. It seems that some posts on this where removed from Ausbonsai. Whatever
I am happy to see this discussion having two different sides. I tried to discuss this subject on the old IBC and got a one sided discussion.
I think every country will be different. Places like Japan or china where mountains have been stripped of native trees are an example of what needs to be avoided. Europe and America seem to be getting to a cross road where they must make sure Japan and China are not repeated. I get the idea there are a growing number of entrepreneurs that are trying to make a living of selling collected material in these countries I have little idea if these are natives or not. Non native
weeds that are self seeding on the side of the highway in bushland area that the council would remove if they had the budget or land to be cleared but would not officially allow collection due to liability or inability to find the correct form. Being the other side to the argument.
I have read a paper from one of the government sites which I believe was aimed at land owners on when permission is given to rip out trees which was, natives never, wild exotic weeds when the ground incline was not over a certain amount which I gather is to avoid any soil erosion. Discussions I and others have had with council is that they have no problem with us removing exotic weeds from the side of the road in bushland areas. I take all this into consideration. I have not gone as far as asking for official documentation and it seems no one knows who should hand out what in our state so I use all the information above to make reasonable judgments on when to collect.
Not sure if it is still in place but I remember council laws that prevent any tree being removed from the garden in your home whether you planted it or not. The process was to get approval and if given then a tree must be planted some where in the yard to replace. By this law I would have to get council aproval every time I ripped up one of my ground grown trees.