In the afternoon of February 15, at least three large araucaria trees that had been growing inside the Enemalta 31st December fuel installation at Birżebbuġa were felled. These trees had been there for more than 50 years and were part of the Birżebbuġa landscape.

Can Enemalta or Mepa tell us why the trees were removed? This area now seems denuded as only the Enemalta fuel tanks are visible. Are these trees to be replaced?

This is the second batch of large old araucaria trees that has been felled in the past years in Birżebbuġa because another two growing in a large garden at Pretty Bay made way for the building of an apartment block.

What is happening to our environment in this locality? Has a war been declared against it, with all sorts of industrial development? Though beneficial to the economy, the development has been lowering the quality of life of the town’s ever-growing population.