Be the first to comment!Trees cover only 0.66% of land across the Maltese Islands
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Commemorated every year on the 5th of June, this year’s World Environment Day theme is “Forests: Nature at your service.” In Malta, forests cover only 2.1 km2, or 0.66 per cent, of the total land area, according to the latest CORINE Land Cover data.
From 2004 to 2010, 128,703 trees were planted by Government, NGOs and ELC Ltd. This figure does not include trees which were planted by private individuals and enterprises as part of the 34U (Tree For You) campaign, which is coordinated by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.
Throughout the period under review, government afforestation projects contributed 41 per cent of all planted trees. Government’s contribution was most significant in 2006 and 2007, when over 30,000 trees were planted, representing 57 per cent of Government’s contribution from 2004 to 2010.
Throughout the years under review, the share of trees planted through individual NGO projects amounted to 26 per cent. During 2008 and 2009, these projects provided the highest share of planted trees when compared to the other key players. In absolute amounts, NGOs contributions peaked in 2006, when just over 8,300 trees were planted.
The Foresta 2000 project is a joint venture between Government and NGOs, which aims to establish a Mediterranean forest on the western slope of Marfa Ridge. From 2004 to 2010, this project contributed 14 per cent of the planted total. In 2007, a sharp increase occurred when numerous trees were replanted following the deliberate destruction of around 3,000 trees.
During the period under review, ELC Ltd. was a key contributor, planting trees in various public areas and gardens across the Islands. On average, ELC Ltd. planted just under 3,450 trees per year, with the highest number in 2007.
During these three years, Government planted 30 different tree species, 19 of which are indigenous to the Maltese Islands. Indigenous trees amounted to 94 per cent of the total amount planted by Government in this period. In 2010, the extent of tree planting was roughly equivalent to the sum of the two preceding years.
