Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar Tree has called on the Prime Minister to put a stop to tree “vandals”, led by “local authorities who should know better”.

In a statement this morning, FAA said the Qormi council removed 10 mature ficus trees in Alexandra Square saying the garden was unsanitary when it was the council that failed to keep it clean.

In Valletta, potted trees which months ago were removed from Merchants' Street by the ‘Regeneration Project’ have not been returned and this week, an old protected oak outside the entrance to the Upper Barrakka was uprooted and shifted.

Moreover, three of the stone pines planted in the bus terminus area outside Valletta were uprooted to make space for a V18 installation showing former City Gates. These had cost more than €30,000 and were not suitable for replanting.

Heavily pruned trees in Naxxar.

In Naxxar, trees along 21st September Avenue were butchered under the guise of pruning, FAA said.

The FAA said it held Transport Minister Joe Mizzi, who was in charge of landscaping, and Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who was responsible for the planning authority, responsible for the amateurish way biodiversity was being managed.

The Prime Minister, it said, should see that its electoral manifesto which said “we will constantly protect existing trees in Maltese towns and villages” was honoured.

FAA called on the Prime Minister to intervene stop “this useless, costly, damaging and unprofessional work” paid out of public funds.