Following the uprooting of the trees at St. James Ditch, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) has said in a statement that it cannot but condemn “the damaging and unprofessional manner in which the uprooting of these trees was managed.”

While FAA understands that some trees had to be moved in order to allow for the bus terminus turning-circle, it said, “the amateurish way in which the trees were uprooted will significantly diminish their chances of survival once replanted.”

FAA added that it has left no stone unturned to try and help the Government, especially the Ministry for Landscaping responsible for ELC, which was contracted to remove the trees.

“FAA has a number of times brought over an arborist from UK, Ian Lanlsey, to advise and help with professional tree management, so that the least possible damage is inflicted on Malta’s trees, and especially to save trees where infrastructural projects are involved.”

However, FAA said that it regrets that “despite the recent best-practice training at the Castille project, the laissez-faire attitude towards the natural environment and trees seems to prevail.”

The concerns about the masking of the bastions could easily have been addressed by professional pruning of the trees to lower their crowns, the eNGO said.

FAA stated that “it is deplorable that MEPA, the authority responsible for the protection of trees had originally approved the destruction of all the 50-year old trees at St James’ Ditch, when to its credit, Transport Malta is incorporating 16 out of the 28 trees into its new plans.”

From FAA’s latest contacts with the various authorities handling the project, it seems that they too “are disappointed with the way the trees were handled,” it said.

FAA regrets to say that this is happening too often. “Mismanagement and amateurish work on trees is undertaken and then those in charge admit that the work was not carried out in the professional way it should have been done.”

“Finally responsibility lies with Malta’s politicians who tolerate such mismanagement to the detriment of the environment and public health, and what’s more, paid for by public funds,” FAA concluded.

In Gozo, the saga of the relocation of trees from it-Tokk Square by the Victoria Local Council, continues. In early January, the Council said in a statement that it was prepared to take “all necessary action” against the Planning Authority,” in its bid to uproot and replant the trees.

Then in the Government Gazette of the 20th of January, the Council notified of a request for sealed quotations by the 12th of February, for the “uprooting and replanting of the trees located at Pjazza Indipendenza, Victoria.”

In November of last year FAA filed a warrant of inhibitory injunction in Court against MEPA to stop the uprooting of the trees at It-Tokk Square, which is undergoing a major EU-financed embellishment project.

Following the legal action taken by the eNGO, MEPA had declared that it had “no intention of allowing the uprooting of the trees.”

However, FAA said that the works being carried out by the Victoria Local Council were “placing the it-Tokk trees in jeopardy.” To date, the sorry state of the trees continues.

Permalink: Deplorable uprooting of trees at St James Ditch – FAA