The planning authority favoured the retention of mature trees wherever possible when assessing new development projects, it said today.

Referring to statements made yesterday about the uprooting of trees in Malta, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said that specific permits for uprooting trees were required in certain cases but it repeatedly encouraged the safeguarding of trees even in projects where the trees were not protected through legislation.

If the retention of such trees was not possible due to project constraints, transplantation within the same site or a different location would be considered. If this was also not possible, the authority might allow, in exceptional circumstances, for the removal of such trees and request compensatory planting whereby the number of the new trees would have to be significantly higher than those removed.

“All projects are assessed taking into consideration the specific site context, while also evaluating requirements related to cultural heritage and infrastructure, among other issues,” it said.