The FAA – TREE Group was recently formed, under the auspices of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, having as its main aims Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) with regard to trees.

FAA said that this has followed after a number of requests and complaints that it had been receiving asking for its involvement and action towards the better appreciation and professional management of trees in the Maltese Islands.

“Considering the way that established and sometimes even protected urban trees have been and have been mis-managed over the past few years, we cannot but feel that this has become more of a commercial activity than professional management aimed to protect local trees, or to contribute to the appreciation and safeguarding of our natural environment, or to embellish our urban landscape to benefit from the presence of such a natural resource,” FAA said.

“While appreciating that local public funds are being made availabe for ‘landscaping’ activities and also Government’s intervention to acquire European Union financial help in this regard, we regret to say that the way such funds are being used, falls short of expectations as much more can be done with better planning and better management. In certain occasions these funds are also contributing to negative social and ecological impacts,” FAA stated.

FAA also pointed out “the number of trees which were removed, uprooted or destroyed in various parts of the country, such as Fgura, Zebbug, Cospicua, Rabat, Mdina Ditch, Mellieha, Luqa, Santa Lucia, Rahal Gdid, Marsa and Victoria and Xewkija in Gozo. We are also extremely concerned by the envisaged further destruction of more trees in the EU TenT-financed project at Salina Road and Kennedy Grove.”

“Such destruction of trees approved by Government is also unfortunately encouraging a number of individuals who are joining such destruction and cutting down a number of trees such as Carob Trees and others in both in ODZ (Outside Development Zones) and also in urban areas, without any enforcement by the respective Government entities,” FAA added.

“Considering the rate in which the Maltese Islands are losing their established urban trees, the FAA – TREE Group calls on the highest authorities to intervene without delay in this uncontrolled destruction of trees in the Maltese Islands. We would also like to ask the ministry involved to ensure that such activities are carried out in a professional manner with the invovlement of the general public and NGOs as promised by this Government, as also published in the various Government publications such as the National Environemnt as well as European Union policies.”

FAA concluded, “over the last century Malta has suffered from a lack of tree cover, but never has the destruction of trees in urban areas reached the levels of the last few years, depriving residents of the benefits of trees that buffer them from dust and noise pollution, absorb toxic emissions, mitigate flooding and provide cool shade and contribute to the urban quality of life. The projected destruction of many of the trees forming the ecologically-rich canopy of trees by Kennedy Grove is the latest of many destructive state-sponsored projects which go counter to our claimed environmental values.”

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