Trees that continue to disappear

I have just been made aware of the latest idea to come from the Gozo Ministry regarding the Eco-Gozo concept. Apparently, it has been decided that there are too many trees on Gozo, so they are going to remove a few. Unfortunately for all the people who enjoy Independence Square or It-Tokk area, those are the trees they have decided to get rid of.

So what’s behind this decision? Well, the official version is that birds’ droppings dirty people’s cars. It’s a disgrace that this younger generation of birds has no respect whatsoever for people’s property. The unofficial version is that the powers-that-be want to increase the space available for market stalls and tables.

Now there are several problems regarding these trees – the main one being they are protected by their age and, apparently, the decision has been made to cut them down rather than transplant them elsewhere. I would say the reason for that is because if they tried to uproot them in order to transplant them it would entail digging around the area of the tree to a diameter seven times that of the tree trunk. That would basically destroy the entire site and if it took as long to put it back in order as it’s taking them to do St George’s Square, the café’s and market traders would all be out of business.

This comes on the back of the approved redevelopment of the Victoria bus terminus, which will see 24 ficus trees being transplanted on the site.

Will these actually be transplanted or simply uprooted and dumped? Your guess is as good as mine but I’d probably opt for the latter myself.

And what about all the trees removed on the road to San Lawrenz, Xagħra and Ta’ Pinu?

Then there was the case of the ficus trees, which were destroyed on May 21 this year outside St John’s Cathedral facing the law courts.

All these trees are protected by Trees and Woodlands Protection Regulations (LN12 of 2001), which requires pruning only to take place under permit by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority or the Department of Agriculture, which was not the case at St John’s. Were any steps taken against those responsible?

I’m sure not. So will Mepa approve this cutting down rather than pruning at It-Tokk and destroy yet another roosting site used by thousands of protected white wagtails in winter? Perhaps the idea is to prevent the birds from roosting at all so that the hunters have a few more targets to blast from the sky. These trees have provided shade to people for many years.

They are an important roosting site for wintering birds. Locals and tourists alike enjoy them. Every year I visit Gozo I always make my way back to the square around 5.30 p.m. to listen to the birds settling down for the night. Just try and imagine the square without its trees.

Another slap in the face for Eco- Gozo.