The Environment and Resources Authority has highlighted where the Comino Hotel project’s shrub and tree interventions will be taking place. It insisted that ”ERA’s decisions are based on its experts’ scientific advice and the laws of Malta.”

Responding to the outcry from environmental groups, political parties and individuals condemning its decision to approve the removal and replanting of trees on the island, ERA wrote on social media that, ”these works concern shrubs and trees that were planted for the previous hotel’s own landscaping. Interventions regarding the removal and transplanting are mainly limited to the existing footprint as noted in the map shown.”

ERA said that 624 specimens are non-protected – these will be removed. The majority of these (467) are oleanders, a shrub species horticulturally planted within the hotel premises as ornamental landscaping.

”54 protected trees will be removed,” however ERA said that it has ”obliged the Hili Group to plant 10 trees for each tree removed, therefore the Comino Hotel project will see 540 new indigenous trees being planted. A compensation plan is to be submitted for ERA’s approval prior to implementation to ensure adequate species are selected for the site.”

The Authority concluded that ”another 348 trees will be transplanted to the sites of the hotel project. Any tree that does not get transplanted successfully will have to be compensated for with 10 new trees, another ERA condition on the Hili Group.”

Photo: ERA

Permalink: Comino trees: ERA decision on ”based on experts’ scientific advice and the laws of Malta”