On Monday, an exercise was carried out by architects from the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, in collaboration with members of Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex, to mark a number of trees along the Marsalforn Road between Victoria and Marsalforn that are to be preserved during work on the road widening project.

Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex said that this follows a decision by Minister Clint Camilleri, on Din l-Art Helwa’s insistence, “to explore all possibilities to conserve as many trees as possible and to ensure that these are clearly identifiable.”

DLH Ghawdex said that the original plan envisaged the removal of nearly 200 trees to make way for the construction of a wide bicycle lane along the entire stretch of road. However, a revised solution was devised by the Ministry’s architects.

“The bicycle and pedestrian path will now make use of adjacent rural roads wherever possible. In the central section of the route, where such rural roads are not available, a dedicated bicycle lane will be incorporated into the existing carriageway. As this section is already relatively wide enough, the number of trees earmarked to be felled will be minimal,” said DLHGh.

In total, 357 trees and shrubs have been marked at their base with a biodegradable yellow ecological spray, which will naturally fade within approximately two years, said DLHGh. “These trees and shrubs will be saved. A further 107 have been marked with a similar orange-coloured spray, indicating those that will be preserved through transplantation.”

It noted that some of these bear an orange question mark, denoting mature specimens for which transplantation will be attempted, despite the low likelihood of survival.

DLHGh stated that however, “the Ministry for Gozo and Planning remains committed to making every reasonable effort to save them.”

Photograph Din l-Art Helwa Ghawdex

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