Updated 5.20pm with MCCF reaction

The shadow minister for the environment, Jason Azzopardi, asked on Monday whether money from the Community Chest Fund was being used for tree-planting.

He referred to a newspaper report where Qormi mayor Jesmond Auilina reportedly said that 120 trees had been planted in the locality thanks to the Community Chest Fund.

Dr Azzopardi said that unless this was some kind of black humour, he was calling on the Community Chest Fund administrators to explain since when CCF money started being used to finance the planting of trees, and why Qormi was chosen.

He also asked how much money had been spent each year in the last five years on tree-planting and whether other localities had been advised that they could tap the Community Chest Fund to plant trees.

He also asked if it was morally acceptable for money collected for humanitarian causes to be siphoned off to plant trees and whether the Head of State approved of diverting CCF money to plant trees.

Initiative was announced last October - MCCF

In a reaction, the MCCF said the initiative, announced last October, has two aims. 

Whoever donated €500 or more during L-Istrina, had the opportunity to not only help the vulnerable, but also, be more proactive to help in having cleaner air.

"The decision of how many or where these trees are planted has been taken by the Rural Development Department (Parks and Initiatives) who have sponsored a substantial amount of trees. The trees will be planted in Birkirkara, in Qormi and in Siggiewi."

The initiative has also been taken with the collaboration of the respective local councils.

"Apart from helping to have cleaner air, through the planting of trees, thought has also been given to the species of trees chosen, as these are indigenous trees which were at risk of extinction in Malta," the MCCF said.