The government today responded to the recent outrage over the savage pruning of trees lining St Ġorġ Preca College, Ħamrun by announcing that a course on tree pruning is set to open later this year.
“One of the main shortcomings is not only abuse but the fact that there might be insufficient knowledge regarding tree pruning, even among the most devoted people,” Environment Minister Leo Brincat said.
While visiting the newly installed Air Quality Monitoring System at the Institute of Applied Science at Mcast, Mr Brincat said that both the Environment and Education Ministries agreed on the new course.
The new course is set to be held at the Centre of Agribusiness within Mcast.
AIR MONITORING EQUIPMENT
Mr Brincat referred to the new air monitoring equipment, saying it represented a €128,000 investment co-funded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund.
The Air Quality Monitoring System measures a range of particulate matter (tiny particles of solid or liquid matter dispersed in a gas or liquid, in this case, air), including harmful pollutants such as ozone (a major component of smog), nitrogen oxide (emissions from vehicles and industrial polluters) and carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon in fuels).
The system logs the findings, analyses them, and transmits them to reception locations.
Mr Brincat said he was urging young people to follow courses in environmental engineering.
A final call for applications for Mcast courses will be held between September 23 and 25 from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.