The €100,000 fine imposed by the courts on developer Carmel Polidano, known as ic-Caqnu, for cutting down three protected trees in Balzan and demolishing a rubble wall was substantial but would not necessarily stop wrongdoers as the big developers' pockets were deep, Nature Trust said.

In a statement, the NGO called for enforcement action to be strengthened and for the law to be spruced up if necessary, to halt people intent on destroying protected natural and cultural heritage in their tracks, return the area to its pristine state where possible and/or pay a sum to compensate society for any damage inflicted.

“It should thus be possible for such flagrant breaches of environment protection laws and regulations to be effectively nipped in the bud.”

NTM said it looked forward with hope to a time when such happenings would no longer be in the news and the Maltese public could rest safe in the knowledge that its interests as regarded environmental heritage were effectively and constantly protected.

Unless this happened soon, it might be too late, the NGO said.