Following the uprooting of the trees at St. James Ditch, FAA 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, the amateurish way in which the trees were uprooted will significantly diminish their chances of survival once replanted.
FAA has not left a stone unturned to try and help 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 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.
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. 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.
15.05.15
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