Ambjent Malta, launched last week, should start with a bang. It should save the trees along the new road development from Mrieħel to Rabat. Environmentalists and the public are urging the government and Transport Malta to find alternative ways and means to safeguard the various trees along this development.

This will be a good start for this new agency. What a pity to lose most of the greenery along the picturesque avenue leading to the old city of Mdina and its suburb. It will never be the same despite the rhetoric of planting twice as many trees somewhere else.

Environment Minister Josè Herrera went to the rescue over Ta’ Pinu trees in Gozo.

Not to do the same for the trees along the Rabat Road will be a big dent on his reputation vis-à-vis the environment.