I was greatly encouraged to read that some serious action at last seems to be on the cards by our new Environment Minister José Herrera regarding afforestation. However, the news that a mini-Buskett has been earmarked, which will be large enough to attract wildlife, has raised eyebrows.

Herrera’s disappointment about the miserable number of trees planted every year in Malta is more than justified. I admire his commitment to make Malta greener and the appointment of a special ad hoc committee to draw up an afforestation project is laudable.

Rightly so the minister is insisting that only indigenous trees are to be planted. He can only look at Manoel Island and note how green it looks all year round or at the pine trees going up from Pietà to Portes des Bombes. To my mind there is no better tree adapted to Malta’s climate. It is resistant to the westerly wind and to dry summers. The Maltese name for this tree is Żnuber.

My appeal, however, to the minister and his committee, is to include Comino in any afforestation programme. This desert Island is 3.5 kilometers in area, large enough to accommodate thousands of trees.

The 20-minute ferry trip from Malta to Gozo is short enough, yet 15 minutes are spent looking at a desert. An afforestation programme can and should include Comino.

In due course, this diamond of an island could be transformed into a national park for the enjoyment of future generations. Do we have that foresight?