Tree replacement fund doubles as anger turns into action

The fund to replace the 3,000 vandalised trees of the Foresta 2000 project in Mellieha has gone up to Lm25,000, following hefty donations from private companies and from a school yesterday.

Environment Minister George Pullicino, who was presented with the money at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, has set the challenge to double the amount of trees that would be planted - 6,000 - "to send an even stronger message than that of the eco-terrorists".

The sum required was between Lm36,000 and Lm40,000, each tree costing an average of Lm6. So there was still some way to go, Mr Pullicino said, appealing for more people to come forward with their contributions, no matter how small, to be able to reach the target.

But yesterday's donations raised the fund significantly from Lm11,000 to Lm25,000, with Gasan Group donating Lm2,500, Melita Cable plc another Lm2,500, Tumas Group Lm5,000, and Vodafone Foundation Lm3,000.

The students of the St Joseph school in Paola, who had also assisted in the planting of the trees and had taken their destruction badly, collected Lm300, while another Lm1,000 were the accumulation of smaller donations from the public.

Mark Gasan from Gasan Group said the companies had decided to contribute and lend a hand because the act of vandalism was "shocking and scandalous".

Mr Pullicino said the government could have forked out the money, but it wanted the public to have the opportunity to give vent to its anger by contributing directly and individually to the replacement of the trees.

A "massive" tree-planting weekend was being scheduled for the beginning of October - the ideal time - and would be carried out from Saturday morning to Sunday evening and even throughout the night.

The idea was that, since the act of vandalism was carried out at night, the event would be organised at the same time to counteract a negative incident with a positive activity, Mr Pullicino said.

It would involve the donating companies and their employees, and would include a number of activities for the family in Mellieha.

Mr Pullicino said the message to the vandals was that if they did it to hurt the authorities and the NGOs, they had succeeded; but, most of all, they had hurt the country's new generations as the afforestation project was for them.

The 3,000 pine saplings in the area beneath the Red Tower, in Mellieha, known as Foresta 2000, were systematically wiped out by vandals almost two weeks ago, causing a public outcry.

Five types of indigenous trees and shrubs had been planted in the area over the past three years in an afforestation project by BirdLife Malta, involving Din l-Art Helwa, and the Environment Ministry's Parks, Afforestation and Countryside Restoration Department and with the contribution of the Italian organisation, Corpo Forestale dello Stato.

The area could take up to 50,000 trees, including pine, oak, carob, olive and sandarac gum trees. About 9,000 had been planted over the years, and the more that could be replaced, the better, Mr Pullicino said.

The project involved the creation of a "Mediterranean forest", which included a mixture of indigenous trees and shrubs that could survive almost drought-like climate, said BirdLife Malta president Joe Mangion.

"If this act of vandalism was meant to discourage our work, it is only going to strengthen our resolve to continue to improve the environment and create more areas of enjoyment for the public."

In a statement, the Association of Local Councils said it had taken the initiative to mobilise local councils to contribute so that the vandalised trees would be replaced. Over 20 councils had already reacted positively to this initiative.