The Office of the Prime Minister has responded to a statement issued earlier this afternoon by NGO The FAA Tree Group regarding the online petition to save trees.
“The Prime Minister communicated with Astrid Vella saying that all petitions are received from the same address mail@change.org, [1] which is accessible from a website. Therefore, anyone who sends in the petition, unfortunately, cannot receive a reply from the Prime Minister.”
The OPM said that “The Government is strengthening the natural heritage of our country. Through 34U 115,000 trees have already been planted. The number of recreational areas for families has also increased and three parks were extended, namely Ta’ Qali, Salini and Xrobb l-Ghagin in Marsascala. More than 93,500 trees, shrubs and plants were planted in Gozo, including an afforestation project and the refurbishment of the Villa Rundle Gardens.
“The Government’s policy is that when there is a new project, where possible trees are to be integrated into the project itself. Where this is not possible, tress that have to be uprooted are then planted elsewhere, or a substantial number of trees are planted to compensate for tose that had to be removed” the OPM statement concluded.