Trees and Woodlands Action Plan – less development, more trees

ADPD’ proposals have been submitted by Samuel Muscat, on behalf of the party to the Environment and Resources Authority for the public consultation exercise on the ‘Intent and Objectives: National Trees and Woodlands Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2030’.

“Malta and Gozo have by far the least woodland cover in the EU. The advantages of increasing woodland should be obvious,” said Samuel Muscat. “For example, woodland parks in urban areas are needed for climate resilience as they reduce the urban heat-island effect and help water retention among many other benefits.”

He pointed out that “given the importance of small woodlands and woodland parks in urban areas, the aim of the National Trees and Woodlands Strategy and Action Plan should be to buy up the last remaining pockets of land in urban areas, and declaring them community parks.”

“Tools such as planning control applications could be submitted by the government to limit the overdevelopment and use of pockets of land given over to unbridled and savage development in 2006,” said Muscat. “We doubt however the political will of government to take the bull by the horns and make right the wrongs against residents all over Malta perpetuated by PNPL over the years.”

“Urban valleys could also be acquired, afforested and turned over to the public for recreation. Schemes to push and reward farmers in peri-urban areas to plant trees on their land to increase greenery and air purification ecosystem services should also be seriously considered,” he said.

He stressed that “it is of paramount importance that a professionally staffed and properly financed publicly supported network of tree and plant nurseries specialising on native genetic stock is established. The supply of indigenous locally grown trees and plants is a huge bottleneck in any afforestation and habitat restoration efforts.”

Muscat concluded that, “we cannot but point out that existing plans are already in place and these need to be implemented. The Valleys Management Masterplan already recommends a lot of reforestation of valleys. The resources need to be put in place to implement this plan.”

ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo insisted that “our quality of life is being attacked by unbridled so-called development and by the building of unnecessary roads, such as the one in Dingli, in Gozo, the Central Link, among many others.”

He went on to say that, “if government was half as interested in urban greenery and afforestation as it is in increasing pollution in urban areas and favouring speculators in their building frenzy, then probably Malta and Gozo would be a much better place to live in.”

ADPD proposals are:

– The top priority is to protect what we have. Proper monitoring of tree species which are very rare especially those with very small gene pool such as willow for threats such as diseases, is essential.

– The strategy and action plan must be binding. ERA publishes many good documents but these are ignored or overruled. For projects to be successful clear binding targets are essential, such as a percentage of tree cover for the whole country by 2030, and a target for local indigenous plants and trees grown within 5 years.

– Each afforestation project action plan should include a timeline and method statement on the removal of alien species, and proper management and monitoring of progress.

– Tree protected areas should be expanded.

– Allow and encourage citizens to participate. Partnerships with individuals to plant on private land. Support and resources for individuals and voluntary organisations.

– Urban greenery is of paramount importance. The identification and acquisition of pockets of land in urban areas for urban woodland parks should be one of the main priorities.

– Partnerships with private land owners and farmers could include the provision of expertise and compensation for planting trees, including on the verges of agricultural land.

Photo by Anthony Zammit