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Updated: Mepa investigating uprooting of carob tree

Photo: Alan Deidun

Photo: Alan Deidun

A mature carob tree reputed to be over 100 years old has uprooted by workers in San Gwann to the disgust of residents.

A spokesman for Mepa said this afternoon it had been informed of the incident by some residents and it immediately stopped the works to investigate.

Photo: Alan DeidunPhoto: Alan Deidun

Environmentalist Alan Deidun said that the tree was presumably pulled down during works connected to the interconnector project.

He said that when confronted by shocked residents, the staff operating the machinery on site stated that the tree would be relocated. This, he said, was next to impossible, seeing how it had been butchered.

Dr Deidun said the workers also stated they had permits in hand - however, when confronted by residents, they started faltering.

He asked if the trenches - in Triq il-Baltiku, corner with Triq il-Bies, overlooking Wied l-Ghomor - could have been relocated by a few metres to spare the tree, if they were in fact connected to the interconnector project.

Since the interconnector was being partly funded by the EU, the union should ensure that its funds were not used to wreak environmental damage, he said adding that this was one of his proposals as an MEP candidate in 2009.

Dr Deidun hoped that the maximum fees in relation to such environmental liability were applied in full and that a modicum of rectification is applied.

Giving an example he said that at least 10 indigenous mature trees could be planted close to the same site, which was close to the scheduled Wied l-Ghomor valley.

“Has the legislation regarding environmental liability come into force in Malta, transposing the mother EU directive? If yes, this could be a perfect example where it could be applied by Mepa to punish the perpetrator, he said.

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Joseph Agius

Aug 30th 2012, 14:59

I share your opinion about Dr Deidun. Yet, he did present himself for MEP on the GonziPN ticket. Do you think it has made any difference to this government's treatment of the environment.
I too would vote Dr Deidun, but if he presented himself as a candidate for an Environmental Lobby.

Terrence Seychell

Aug 30th 2012, 14:06

Probabilment ghalik cuccata imma ghal nies li japprezzaw l-importanza tal-ambjent ta' madwarom m'hijix. Fit-triq fejn nghix jien (il-Fgura) qas sigra imgiddma m'hemm u vera tidher kerha. Il-ftit li kien hemm nehhewhom flok ziduwhom, li ma taghmilx sens meta tqis li l-Fgura hui wiehed mill-aktar postijiet imnigges f'Malta!

Antonio Anastasi

Aug 30th 2012, 10:15

The main priority is protecting and preserving our fast diminishing natural heritage and environment.
Moving the interconnector 5M or 10M would have saved this tree and still given us affordable (a fact yet to be proven) electricity.

Antonio Anastasi

Aug 30th 2012, 08:56

While reparation in the form of replacing tree destroyed illegally is commendable, no amount of trees planted in reparation can make up for the loss of an old tree especially a centenary carob tree
Seeing the constant and repeated infringements of the laws protecting our tree heritage by developers and the law needs to be changed so as to punish developers with not only fines and reparation, but also with the withdrawal of their permits.
MEPA should keep a book with the names of companies and their directors recording infringements. People on the list would not be favoured when government contracts come along or applications for development permits are put forward.
Also the fines and guarantees should be considerable enough to make developers think twice before infringing their permits

Peter Bonello

Aug 30th 2012, 08:57

actually the P stands for Planning :P

f vincenti

Aug 30th 2012, 08:47

Well said Astrid...... sadly the ignorant few who want to get their 'project done' don't give two hoots about anything they destroy or uproot in the process. Such is the anarchy of this island.

Patrick Zammit

Aug 30th 2012, 09:09

Astrid, kindly allow me to add to your very valid comment. Trees store up and use CO2 and thus also help reduce global warming.

B. Cachia

Aug 30th 2012, 09:18

Astrid, nobody disputes the fact that trees in an urban environment are desirable, and that there should be more of them. What I fail to understand is why INDIVIDUAL trees cannot be moved or removed if necessary. The fact is that by making them so, we are ensuring that very few people will actually plant trees, because they know that if their needs change later on, they will not be able to remove them. Fundamentalism often achieves the exact opposite of what it claims to be its objective.

And, just for the record, I am not a developer and have nothing against trees or other forms of vegetation :)

Melaine Bugeja

Aug 30th 2012, 06:05

Shows you never parked your car there. Still those trees were replanted to another site in mellieha

Lino Busuttil

Aug 30th 2012, 06:26

The problem stems from MEPA itself and the lack of education on nature. Imagine in European cities trees are eliminated because of birds droppings !

Antonio Anastasi

Aug 30th 2012, 09:34

@ Melaine Bugeja....I do not think that you ever left this country to visit other European countries who have more trees and birds than us, yet we are the only country where bird dropping are used as an excuse to remove trees. Bird droppings can be removed with a quick wash and its a good as new, a replanted old tree has a 50% chance of surviving, and will take many years before it can give the benefits it was giving.
Please have a read of this on the benefits of trees, there are many more as well researched studies on the benefits of trees worth looking at.
http://northlandnemo.org/images/22BenefitsofUrbanStreetTrees.pdf

B. Storace

Aug 30th 2012, 09:48

Ms. Bugeja I see where you come from...................obviously someone who knows absolutely zilch about trees and their benefits but someone who insists on parking her car under a tree overnight.......another lack of general knowledge and observation. Trees give shade during the day while the birds are away looking for their next meal. They return to roost and the cycle continuous.

S Muscat

Aug 30th 2012, 09:14

John il-Mepa tiehu azzjoni meta n-nies jirrapurtaw jekk le kollox jibqa ghaddej u kulhadd jaghmel li rrid!!!

Patrick Zammit

Aug 30th 2012, 11:50

No, hunters are not heavily fined for destroying trees.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100824/local/hunters-plead-guilty-to-foresta-2000-vandalism.323827

Saviour Fenech

Aug 29th 2012, 22:20

Kemm baqa injoranza, hux

James Aquilina

Aug 29th 2012, 19:31

Mr Cachia li kieku tkun taf kemm tiehu zmien biex tkabbar Harruba zgur ma tghidx hekk.

Jason Falzon

Aug 29th 2012, 19:40

Think for a moment what difference seeing from one's home window, a couple of trees and some flowers make to one's life, instead of the drab concrete and stone everywhere. Then come back and comment again.

B. Cachia

Aug 29th 2012, 19:40

So what, James? Din mhix l-unika harruba li tezisti u mhix se taqa' d-dinja. U lanqas ma naraha tip ta' sigra addattata ghal zoni urbani. Nahseb huwa iktar importanti li naraw li l-ftit kampanja li baqa' ma tinqeridx milli noqoghdu nelevaw sigar individwali ghal status sagru u noqoghdu nadurawhom.

Mr Tony Gatt

Aug 29th 2012, 19:51

Urban trees are the lungs of a city.

Antonio Anastasi

Aug 29th 2012, 20:00

Mr. Cachia, trees in urban areas have great financial, aesthetic and health benefits. All over Europe Urban trees are protected and to the extend that in most European countries this type of behavior would not be tolerated.
This particular tree was outside of a urban area.
On a last point there are countless streets, roads and developments named after the trees that once enhanced the location.
http://northlandnemo.org/images/22BenefitsofUrbanStreetTrees.pdf

Justin Spiteri

Aug 29th 2012, 20:04

The earth does not belong to us.... we belong to her. All it needs is a "sneeze" from mother earth (an earthquake) and whole urban areas cease to exist... :)

Charles Muscat

Aug 29th 2012, 21:07

In Sydney houses are so much among trees that you hardly see them.

Ray Pisani

Aug 29th 2012, 21:49

With respect Mr Cachia it is people like you and probably the majority of the Maltese who are spoiling Malta forever. Please remember that the tree in question removes toxic chemicals from the air and provides oxygen.
This tree was also there before the urban conglomoration spread out so in my mind and in other environment concious people the tree was a 'sacred object'. Unlike us humans the tree never harmed anyone and withstood the ravages of time, building, war and storms only to be pulled down like a rotten corpse.
Why do you think the tree was protected by law, it is true the law is an ass and Malta is the jungle where contractors and pathetic MEPA rule.
THE CONTRACTORS MUST REPLACE THIS MATURE CAROB TREE WITH ANOTHER MATURE CAROB TREE.
Shame on whoever is responsible.
It is heartening to note that other fellow citizens were upset over this incident.
Well done for reporting this and insist on a replacement mature carob tree that will embellish the area as the other did.
Another one bites the dust!

B. Cachia

Aug 29th 2012, 22:22

Obviously, I like trees and plants and flowers, and think there should be more of them in our towns, but not that individual trees should be accorded a sacred status and become untouchable. If a specific tree needs to be replanted or removed then why should such a fuss be made? It's not a sentient being and it is essentially replaceable. Once again, I'm talking about towns and cities here, not about the countryside.

Godfrey James Cassar Simmonds

Aug 30th 2012, 07:08

MIn jaf kieku ghamlu hekk quddiem id-dar tieghek? Filli jkollok sigra bl-ghasafar fuqha u f'daqqa wahda ssib in -nies jittawlu fuqek. Dizastru.

Patrick Zammit

Aug 30th 2012, 07:48

B Cachia, have you ever been to and appreciated an urban park like Central Park or Hyde Park?

If you have, I cannot fathom what made you write such a comment?

B. Cachia

Aug 30th 2012, 09:26

The key to have more trees in our urban areas is not to make a decision to plant one an irrevocable act. Governments have learnt this in the area of labour legislation, where they discovered that making it impossible to fire people makes it less likely that people will be hired in the first place.

The irony is that by making INDIVIDUAL trees sacred, we are ensuring that few people will ever plant any, and that we will have fewer of them around us.

Sean Swain

Aug 30th 2012, 09:55

@ B. Cachia

This is our major problem in Malta, poor planning of urban and residential areas. We NEED trees, its not just a want but a necessity, particularly when considering how over populated the country is, and the average 2 - 3 cars per family.

As Patrick Zammit commented before, Major cities like London, New York, Tokyo have massive parks providing breathing space in an urban area. We lack this. Now obviously, Cities like Tokyo and London are bigger then our entire country, but the only areas in Malta I know of with a good number of trees is Buskett and Mizieb, the rest is garieg.

The outcy is not because it is one tree either, but because it is a very old tree. I doubt any of the commenters here are 100 yrs old, so technically speaking that tree had more right to be there then the interconnecter that could have just been routed around it. Thats the point!

B. Storace

Aug 30th 2012, 09:58

Mr. Cachia, In the last couple of years and in the name of progress, upgrading and supposedly beautifying, TM has chopped down, uprooted and decimated thousands of mature trees and more are destined to follow in the same way if the Kennedy Grove / Salina proposed changes happen. Flowers are pretty and we should have more around but they are labour intensive to maintain and expensive to replace annually While trees are like cats....self sufficient........and are much much more beneficial to us humans. We need more and more trees to replace the ones that have been destroyed but please leave the palms for the North African countries where they belong.

Steve Zammit

Aug 30th 2012, 20:38

B Cahia prova kabbar harruba int ha tara kemm iddum biex tikber., imbagahd f siegha teqred sigra

clive borg

Aug 29th 2012, 19:14

thats just a private plot... this is a government project

david debattista

Aug 29th 2012, 19:14

Let me tell you. The people responsible know they will pay some stupid fine but they will still break the law because they will still make a big profit . To hell with the trees and the environment !

david debattista

Aug 29th 2012, 19:27

CLIVE THEN WE ARE NOTHING BUT A SICK JOKE !

Frans Aguis

Aug 29th 2012, 18:54

Take pictures and publish to the media only way to get something done.

K Mizzi

Aug 29th 2012, 19:21

It is incredible how fields are being built from a field room into villas in Xaghra and in Qala. ENFORCEMENT PLEASE OR MR NEW DIRECTOR U ARE GETTING MONEY 4 NOTHING

S Muscat

Aug 30th 2012, 09:20

What about the farms that are being built in fields!? No one objects and if you happen to make a complaint no one cares!!!

Chris Gatt

Aug 29th 2012, 19:12

No Mr Borg. Why should it be either/or? And as Mr Deidun points out if we have to sacrifice the carob tree then this should be replaced. Its called the polluter pays principle. Its ultimately the price we must pay if we want our children to inherit a decent country not an ugly dump . It is also called far sighted as opposed the Maltese issa naraw mentality which is always short sighted.

clive borg

Aug 29th 2012, 19:28

And if you consider the price is simply a carob tree instead of marsa power station fumes....

Also in the article there is ''the staff operating the machinery on site stated that the tree would be relocated.''

anthony bartolo

Aug 29th 2012, 21:50

Ara vera ma hawnx x'tikritika biex sigra tal harrub taqla daqshekk inkwiet.Meta xi hadd qala s-sigar ta pjazza Sant Anna biex jinbena l-kiosk hadd ma fetah halqu.

Antonio Anastasi

Aug 29th 2012, 21:56

Clive Borg, there was the option of moving some 5 or 10 meters from the tree.
I find it amazing how here in Malta we have people with such narrow mindedness not to understand the importance of the environment, and go out of their way to apologize for all the natural heritage is lost.

Steve Zammit

Aug 30th 2012, 20:39

u hallina trid Clive, nies bhalek igeluni nibki, gej b'paroli 'First the turtles took our beach' minflok tifrah b'ahbar bhal dik, ha toqghod teqred, allavolja vera mhumiex se ifaqsu, ghax MEPA ghaziza taghna iddecidt ticaqlaqom u inbidlet it temperatura

B. Cachia

Aug 29th 2012, 19:25

Lino, I don't think there are any 'tree haters', it's simply that people also have to live somewhere. Trees in urban areas should be planted for the convenience of residents (and not the other way round), trees in the countryside should be left alone.

Lino Busuttil

Aug 29th 2012, 19:32

Well B Cachia i tend to disagree a bit here. Ask any tourist from Europe about the striking difference from thiers and our urban areas? Why do you think we facinate our selves when visiting their cities and outskirts? Why are our front gardens most of them surfaced or tiled, is it because wecareca tree loving country?

B. Cachia

Aug 29th 2012, 22:15

It may well be that the reason no one plants trees in their front gardens in Malta is that once you do that, it's no longer your front garden but it becomes an area of public concern and you become susceptible to all kinds of regulations and possibly fines should you wish to remove or replace those trees. So people just avoid the hassle.

Lino Busuttil

Aug 29th 2012, 18:11

Why not? Names should be mentioned.
Though MEPA would no doubt be used to cover such people with necessary "
Illegitimate but legal" permits.

Chris Gatt

Aug 29th 2012, 19:14

finally an honest description of the eyesores left by the saviour-architect of Malta

S Muscat

Aug 30th 2012, 09:23

prosit Mark!!!

Neil Bugeja

Aug 29th 2012, 17:34

I'm glad to see That I am not the only one who thinks Malta is suddenly becoming a desert! Shame on whoever is responsible, be it Transport Malta, MEPA or whoever! This goes beyond politics

Lino Busuttil

Aug 29th 2012, 18:16

Sheer ignorance of the Maltese selfish idiot who thinks admiring trees at ta Qalli once every Sunday in the midst of thousands of polluting drivers is enough.
Plus the patronizing example of our great politicians that planting trees away from your home will compensate the ugliness such baroness in our residential environs creats.

Alfie Lewis

Aug 29th 2012, 18:23

Mr Bugeja not even thousands but lets start talking millions , these contracts can afford it , they are ruining our country with the Governments blessing and their greed for money, sorry BIG MONEY

Daniel Dimech

Aug 29th 2012, 17:12

you are so right

GL Calleja

Aug 29th 2012, 17:15

Money talks and bullshit walks...is that what you mean?

paul valletta

Aug 29th 2012, 17:52

you know that polidano hires the machinery to other contractors so becareful before you speak .

Daniel Dimech

Aug 29th 2012, 17:13

tadam imhassar ....

Lino Busuttil

Aug 29th 2012, 18:47

Rotten tomato, are you sure? It stinks and I don't think it will be used on people
I think it would most likely be second quality which means not very nice but good to eat just the same.
Anyway the tree is already gone, frustrating.

Mr John Borg

Aug 29th 2012, 17:17

Carob tress ARE protected

Charles Grixti

Aug 29th 2012, 17:46

So true and so sad.

Adrian Camilleri

Aug 30th 2012, 10:01

The centre of Malta looks like a spreading cancer.

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