The referendum Yes campaign this morning accused the Gaia Foundation of being among those who were trying to put hunters in a bad light, while it was itself harming the environment by uprooting indigenous trees. The foundation denied the claims (see below)

The Yes campaign said it would present evidence to the authorities and request an inquiry.

Speaking at a press conference at Ghajn Tuffieha, Yes Campaign spokesmen Darren Caruana and Nyal Xuereb  said the foundation was entrusted with the administration of public land at Ghajn Tuffieha but from time to time mature indigenous trees were uprooted even though they were protected by law.

They asked Mepa to investigate, especially as EU funds were used for the administration of the site.

The Yes spokesmen also said the No campaign was trying to hide the fact that its ranks included many foreigners who wanted to see the Maltese denied their right to a derogation for hunting in spring even though hunting took place in their countries, sometimes all year round.  

GAIA FOUNDATION REPLIES

in a reply, the Gaia Foundation said the claims made against it were a blatant distortion of facts, and cheap and desperate mud slinging against a 'No to spring hunting' coalition partner just a week before the referendum.

It said its pruning of trees is carried out with the necessary Mepa permits in accordance with the law. The law does not preclude the pruning of trees as long as such permits are obtained.

The pruning referred to was necessary in order to prevent the carob tree from damaging and destroying the highly protected Sandarac gum trees, which are Malta's national tree, situated under the branches that were pruned, and which were being choked.  

"This mud slinging by the yes campaign is a clear sign of desperately trying to clutch at straws in order to influence the vote on spring hunting. Such attempts usually have the opposite effect, the foundation said. It called upon the electorate to focus on the real spring hunting issues at this hour and to vote to abolish spring hunting, something that their own children will thank them for.

But in reply the Yes Camp stood by its claims and said the trees were destroyed, not pruned. It said the way the trees were handled was not professional, and it is therefore insisting on an investigation. The campaign issued the picture below.