Tree pruning causes damage either way (1)

It may seem strange that a small group of trees in the middle of Malta’s capital city could be a nationally important bird area but that is exactly what the large ficus trees that sit opposite the law courts in Great Siege Square are. Since at least the mid-1960s, these trees have provided a safe nocturnal roost site for thousands of white wagtails, which converge on the island every winter from a number of central European countries.

At least, they provided these conditions until May of this year when the Environment Landscape Consortium (ELC) removed the entire canopy in one fell swoop, without a permit and in defiance of police demands to stop their action. Last week, the regrowth that was just starting to appear on the trees was again removed.

The issue is not about birds versus the co-cathedral, as some would like it to be portrayed. St John’s Co-Cathedral has a paramount importance in Malta’s history and its capital Valletta, a Unesco world heritage site. In fact, BirdLife Malta has been in consultation with the authorities regarding the trees around the co-cathedral for many years. After the concern was raised that damage was occurring to one of the cisterns next to the co-cathedral from the encroaching roots of a single tree, BirdLife immediately agreed to the removal of the “problem” tree and a second tree to make it symmetrical. However, this was not related to the trees in the Great Siege Square but the ones near the co-cathedral’s main entrance. The representatives from the Department of Resources in 2007 confirmed to BirdLife the trees in Great Siege Square, the roost site for thousands of wintering white wagtails, were not posing any threat to the co-cathedral and no action was necessary.

However, with the damage caused to these trees by excessively pruning them without any consideration of the consequences and necessary permits, the natural heritage of the roost site has been completely ignored. This is something of intrinsic importance and value to Malta as well. While the Malta Environment and Planning Authority claims it is investigating the matter, six months on from the original damage, it is obvious there are those who still feel they can act with impunity and little respect for law or nature conservation.

The results are very clear to see for anyone who goes to the Great Siege Square before dusk – the sky is full of wagtails, flying about in confusion and trying to alight on the few remaining sprigs of vegetation. Finding a new roost site is not easy either, as some would think. These birds need to find the same conditions as were once found in Great Siege Square and quickly before the nightly stress and exertion of energy takes its toll. Those that can’t find a new safe roost site will surely perish.

This whole issue was entirely preventable and both natural and national heritage could have been protected equally, setting an excellent example in urban landscaping. In this, the Year of Biodiversity, we have a duty more than ever to ensure that the consequences of our actions are carefully considered.