About 200 trees were planted at the 104 hectares Foresta 2000 site yesterday to offset the damage done when over 100 trees were destroyed in vandal acts last April.
Addressing fifth year schoolchildren from Mellieħa primary school, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino commended the students – who planted the trees – for being a good example to the rest of society.
“This is a positive deed in response to those who destroyed the young pine trees and saplings,” Mr Pullicino said, encouraging the students to say no to vandalism and yes to afforestation.
Since the launch of the Tree for You (34U) campaign in 2004, about 95,000 trees have been planted across the country. The target of 100,000 trees will be reached by year’s end. Asked about security measures in the area, Mr Pullicino said: “Surveillance has increased and we are in the process of stepping up security.”
Mellieħa mayor Robert Cutajar thanked Mr Pullicino and the Maria Regina College for their time. He said he was pleased with the outcome of the court case over the destruction of the trees in which one of the people found guilty of vandalism was now doing community work in the locality. Mr Pullicino asked the students to encourage relatives to take part in a tree-planting weekend to be held between Friday and Sunday at the Salina Park.
The area is being extended to hold 3,000 trees. While Friday will be wholly dedicated to schoolchildren, the public is being invited to join in between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Participants are being asked to book a tree beforehand on 2295 2333 or via 34u@gov.mt.
The subsidised price is €14 for a tree adoption together with a photo-certificate. Claire Cauchi, 34U planting coordinator, explained the trees were all endemic, including olive, Sandarac gum, Aleppo pine, oaks and carob trees. The target set for this weekend is 1,000 trees. Foresta 2000 site park ranger Ray Vella said Din l-Art Ħelwa, in collaboration with BirdLife Malta and Parks (Parks, Afforestation and Restoration of the Countryside), were running a six-year project. By 2011, the programme would see the planting of 19,000 trees on the Foresta 2000 site, which Mr Vella said was three times the size of Buskett gardens. After the 2007 vandal act, termed as a “terrorist act”, when 3,000 pine saplings were destroyed, about 14,000 trees were planted in the area.