Updated | Environmentalists file injunction over uprooting of trees in Gozo

Environmental NGO Flimkien ghall Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) has filed an injunction in the Gozitan courts to stop MEPA from allowing the uprooting of trees in It-Tokk in Victoria.

"Despite a veto from their own environment and protection unit, MEPA is ready to give this embellishment project the go-ahead," FAA president Astrid Vella said.

"This and other recent cases such as embellishment in Nadur, Xlendi, and Marsalforn where government workers were filmed cutting down trees shows that the Gozo eco-policy is a joke."

Vella said that posters clearly show that the Tokk embellishment project makes use of EU funds, despite the department of information saying otherwise.

"We've already spoken to the EU's environmental and infringement unit and we are ready to report this case to the European courts if a solution isn’t found," Vella said.

"Successive governments have caused damage to the environment. These trees in it-Tokk are 50 years old and uprooting them goes against the law. We don't only need trees planted in non-residential areas where they won't bother developers and restaurateurs but in cities as well."

She announced that FAA, together with Transport Malta, are bringing over the tree care manager at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for him to offer his expert advice over the it-Tokk and Nadur cases.

"The planned separation of MEPA has been delayed, and the environment has become a ball that no one wants in their hands," Vella said. "Who knows how much more destruction will take place before the split actually happens?"

Meanwhile, environmentalist Alfred Bladacchino reminded the government of their pre-electoral promise to protect the trees in Maltese cities and villages.

"If the trees at it-Tokk get uprooted, it will represent the complete failure of the governments environmental promises," Baldacchino said.

When questioned by MaltaToday, the environmentalists criticised the news that hotels could be built on a stretch of virgin land in an ODZ zone on the coast of the east of Malta.

"We recognise the economical need for hotels to be built in the south but there are other places in the south where they can be built, not on virgin ODZ land with ecological value," Vella said.

PN say that Environment Minister must shoulder responsibility for environmental decisions

Environment Minister Leo Brincat and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat must “stop washing their hands” off government environment-related decisions, shadow environment minister Charlo Bonnici said.

“Brincat responded to criticism from environmental NGOs, who described him as Pontius Pilate because he washes his hands off all controversies, by saying that he is making his voice heard in cabinet meetings,” Bonnici said. “Brincat needs to realise that he is the Environment Minister and that his role involves taking decisions as a policy-maker, not putting pressure on the government like an environmental NGO.”

Bonnici also reminded Brincat of an open letter that all six serving and former presidents of environmental NGO Din l-Art Helwa recently sent to Joseph Muscat. The letter expresses deep concern at the current state of the environment and the government’s plans for the future.

“Such a letter is unprecedented,” Bonnici said. “Brincat and the Prime Minister can no longer wash their hands off environmental responsibility.”