Indigenous trees are to be planted in seven areas across the island to create new green lungs and supplement plans for a new “mini-Buskett”.
Environment Minister Jose Herrera told The Sunday Times of Malta that the ministry had finished identifying areas for trees from Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq to Żabbar, and planting had already begun at some sites.
“We have a number of afforestation projects which have been approved and which are either being carried out as we speak or will be carried out soon,” he said.
Back in July, Dr Herrera had told this newspaper that he had earmarked an area in the middle of Malta to transform into a “mini-Buskett" which would even be large enough to encourage wildlife to settle.
Insisting Malta was “crying out for trees”, he declined to reveal the exact location of this new woodland but said an ad hoc committee was currently reviewing several proposals and he would be in a position to divulge further information on his woodland ideas in the coming weeks.
He did later say, however, that potential sites included disused landfills which could be given new purpose as green parks.
The central hamlet of Swatar would see two affforestation projects, Dr Herrera said. An 8,000-square metre derelict area between Mater Dei Hospital and Swatar will be turned into a green lung despite having been drawn back into the development zone in 2006. Dr Herrera said a former quarry site and several slip roads in the area would also see new trees planted.
Potential sites included disused landfills which could be given new purpose as green parks
Meanwhile, a “green belt” will be planted on the edge of Swatar overlooking the Msida valley. The 28,000 square metre area is mostly made up of abandoned terraced fields with the occasional cluster of carob trees, but will soon host hundreds of indigenous trees.
Abandoned quarries and busy main roads are not the only areas being targeted for investment. Dr Herera said the Buskett wood around Verdala Palace was also one of the seven sites selected.
Although this was already home to hundreds of trees, Dr Herrera said the government was keen to invest in the area by planting more native trees and removing pesky alien species which had become a threat to the delicate ecosystem.
The beautiful but locally extinct Moon Spider Orchid will also be reintroduced to the national park and waste management practices are to be overhauled following complaints of litter last year, he said.
Meanwhile, Burrmarrad will get some added greenery, with around 1,500 trees and shrubs planned to be planted along a watercourse in a valley known as Wied Santa Katarina.
Dr Herrera said his ministry was working to tap EU funds to plant trees in the valley between Burrmarrad and San Pawl tat Tarġa.
On the opposite side of the island, the area known as ‘il-Foss’ in Żabbar will be turned into a recreational area. Dr Herrera said that planting of trees along the 40,000 square metre ditch near the Notre Dame Bastions, on the outer perimeter of the famous Cottonera Lines, had already begun and a separate planting scheme would soon be carried out by the University of Malta.
The final tree planting project is in the Wied Blandun valley in Fgura. The large but mostly derelict stretch of land had long been earmarked for green investment but has repeatedly been left on the back burner. Dr Herrera said the site was currently overrun with alien species which were killing off local trees and affecting the landscape.
The ministry had already planted 600 trees there in recent weeks with several more planned for the near future. Back in 2015, the government had allocated €125,000 for a study on the potential rehabilitation of Wied Blandun. Dr Herrera said the valley was one of the few remaining open spaces around the Three Cities and the project would be an important breath of fresh air for residents.