The “ecosystem” they’re talking about is the top of a volcano, cold desert scrub, not some pristine Hawaiian jungle. In addition, complaints based on the sacredness of the mountain are empty, too, since there have been telescopes there for decades, without complaint.
I presume from the article that the ecosystem includes indigenous Hawaiians, whom Gaia planted there, along with the native plants. Presumably they may hunt, fish and clear-cut with abandon, and it would still be part of nature. They could even build their own giant telescopes. All part of nature.
Right you are. I’ve been to Mauna Loa Astronomy complex which has beautiful telescope observatory structures atop a barren rocky mountain volcano summit.
Awesome deep dark night sky view!