Efforts by the Church in Malta to increase awareness about the importance of the protection of trees, as well as the need to revamp current legislation to protect those trees which have no protection status, have been applauded by Nature Trust – FEE Malta.

The NGO, in statement said that, “the idea of incorporating trees into the aesthetics of the landscape and their consequential protection is to be commended and legislated.” This comes at a time when the Church is joining all the Christians around the world to celebrate the Season of Creation (1st September to 4th October).

NT-FEE Malta also pointed out that the “ongoing onslaught on trees along roads is short-sighted and short-term, as widening a road section would still lead to bottlenecks elsewhere.”

“Improved public transport and better incentives for students, frequent commuters and cyclists is the way forward.,” the NGO said. “Where trees have to be removed adequate compensation must be sought in the form of the planting of new indigenous trees, if possible within the same locality.”

NT-FEE Malta went on to ask if in fact long term plans exist to ensure that an adequate supply of local indigenous stock exist?

Importing indigenous trees would lead to genetic pollution of the local stock and the high risk of pest infestations from imports as happened in the past, despite the protective measures in place, the NGO said.

On the occasion of Interfaith Celebration of Creation, NT-FEE Malta said that it would like to see the authorities concerned “show a committed and wider appreciation and protection of local biodiversity.”

In particular, the NGO said that it is urging the Environment and Resources Authority to take into account protected fauna when issuing the development permit conditions for applications on abandoned fields, especially those found within scheme.

“Very often these areas are the last enclave for protected species such as hedgehogs, shrews, snakes, chameleons and bats,” said the NGO. “ERA must ensure that these species are safeguarded through a well-planned relocation exercise which must be borne by the developer of the site.”

Nature Trust remarked that it has on many occasions received calls reporting animals fleeing, or being killed during excavation works. “It is useless to have laws protecting local biodiversity when these are being flagrantly ignored by the authorities.”

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