Updated 6.30pm with Gozo ministry's reaction
Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana can breathe a sigh of relief after her colleague, Environment Minister José Herrera, vowed to extend his help over an afforestation project that resulted in a barren wasteland.
The Times of Malta reported earlier this week that a 2015 afforestation project overlooking Ta’ Pinu sanctuary had been laid to waste after months of neglect.
The project was launched by former Gozo minister Anton Refalo. About 50 olive trees were planted but were left to die after no irrigation system was reportedly put in place.
Dr Herrera told the Times of Malta the project did not fall under his remit, adding the trees had probably died due to a lack of water.
He said he had instructed his ministry to communicate with their Gozitan counterparts to offer “technical advice and guidance” in an attempt to restore the afforestation project. It was a brilliant idea, but sometimes such projects were difficult to maintain, the minister remarked.
A brilliant idea but sometimes hard to maintain
Dr Herrera said earlier this week that 2018 would be a record year for tree planting, mentioning a figure of 12,000. Acknowledging the difficulties in such initiatives, he pointed towards the Comino afforestation project as an example of success. “Everybody told me it was impossible to do but we eventually did it”.
He said the Comino trees were constantly looked after and irrigation had been planned.
The government has just established tougher fines for the destruction of certain trees, which in some cases, are as high as €85,000. Moreover, the list of protected species has been increased by 24, to reach 53.
The new regulations also list a set of indigenous trees that must be protected and includes a schedule featuring invasive or alien species.
READ: '2018 will be a record year for tree planting,' says Environment Minister
No one will be allowed to plant, import or export invasive or alien species unless authorised to do so, due to their detrimental effect on the environment.
However, there might be exceptions in the case of ficus and eucalyptus trees in urban public open spaces, given their aesthetic value or their importance to the apiculture industry.
The government came under fire from environmentalists recently over the uprooting of trees to make way for big infrastructural projects, particularly new roads.
Dr Herrera said last month the uprooting of trees to make way for new roads was necessary to prevent the country coming to a “complete standstill”.
The Gozo Ministry said on Saturday that the trees were planted on private property which is managed by Ta’ Pinu shrine.
"The Ministry for Gozo has no management agreement in place to maintain such trees. However, talks started with the respective owners to have a water reservoir constructed and an irrigation system to be installed."