All the trees that are missing or dead on the St Julians waterfront promenade will be replaced by the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund as its contribution to mark Arbor Day 2007.

The fund is already very active in the 34U campaign in Malta, with a significant Lm45,000 sponsorship for the Xrobb l-Ghagin project over three years.

This charitable fund is following the bank's global emphasis on trying to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

It initially sponsored the project with Lm15,000 in order to plant one tree for every one of the bank's 1,500 employees.

The 34U campaign, which is leading to the afforestation of areas at the Salina Park, Mellieha, the Pinetum in Pietà, Xrobb l-Ghagin, Ta' Qali and Buskett, also encourages the public to buy and plant their own tree in any of the selected areas.

Bank employees have also been actively involved in the 34U campaign, turning out in their hundreds to plant 2,000 trees at Salina Park, and 5,000 trees and shrubs at Xrobb l-Ghagin last year. Another 1,200 trees have been planted at the HSBC Garden on Campus at the University of Malta, and a further 5,000 trees will be planted at Xrobb l-Ghagin this year.

"Malta will benefit greatly if more trees are planted and the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund is once again doing its bit both to plant more trees and to increase awareness in urban areas by planting trees to replace all those that are missing or have died in the St Julians waterfront," the bank's CEO, Shaun Wallis, said.

Also to mark Arbor Day, a day recognised worldwide on January 16, the Ministry of the Environment held a number of activities.

These included a tree planting activity on the St Julians seafront and a tour of the Ta' Qali National Park for students, where they got first-hand experience of how trees are grown.

Initiatives also included a 34U School Campaign - a tree-planting competition for schools.