Environmental-optics and similar issues aside, there have been several brawls here within the MTB community over the appropriateness of removing live roots from pre-established trails.

Suffice to say there is a local trail here that has gone from being a full-suspension favorite to a cyclocross bike favorite in a few short years due to trail "maintenance".

While recognizing that these circumstances may not exist in other jurisdictions, I'm sticking with my original answer.