The Malta Independent on Sunday
‘People have been encouraged to see trees as getting in the way’
The uprooting of mature trees and the destruction of old gardens continues to anger many people, a case in point being the recent approval of a project involving the construction of six residential units on a site that forms part of what was described as a “unique” baroque garden of the 18th century Villa Mekrech in Għaxaq.
Environment NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar’s (FAA) coordinator Astrid Vella told this newspaper: “People have been encouraged to see trees as getting in the way. Many Maltese don’t seem to be aware of the general benefits of trees, which are scientifically proven to be important to our health and well being.”
She claimed that the re-planting (re-location) process of mature trees that would have been uprooted is often not done properly, leading to a high failure rate in this regard.
Mrs Vella said the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s (Mepa) approval of the Villa Mekrech project is extremely worrying, especially when you consider that the permit was granted in spite of persistent recommendations to refuse it.
The permit violates the provisions of the South Malta Local Plan and was granted in spite of the Integrated Heritage Management’s report, quoted in the Development Planning Application Report, which says that, “The site forms part of the baroque garden of Meckrich House... The ‘ journet’ along the path is enhanced by a number of statues of mythological figures (such as Leda) and in particular, incorporates an unusual rustic belvedere formed in the shape of an artificial hillock, accessible by a curved flight of stairs which leads to a small viewing platform on top (This part of the garden represents the point of meditation at the end of the wilderness from which the viewer perceives the world and is convinced to return to the ordered world.)
“The uniqueness of this feature in the Maltese Islands, as well as the integrity of the garden, cannot be overstated,” Mrs Vella said.
The site had been inspected by the Heritage Advisory Committee, which urged that the entire garden should be scheduled as soon as possible in view of its importance as a complete entity, saying: “The proposed internal residential development will entirely destroy the existing garden.”
Mrs Vella also referred to a tree of great antiquity within the footprint of the Villa Mekrech building site, which was burnt and reported to Mepa in July-August 2010. This was not inspected until November 2011.
“The Case Officer Report of the application, which was approved on Thursday, states that the unauthorised destruction of trees would invalidate the outline permit, which means that the board members’ excuse that they had no choice but to grant the final permit no longer held, but they went ahead and approved the project nonetheless. This is particularly shameful on the part of those appointed to the board for their heritage credentials.”
The possibility of development taking place in old gardens such as that of Villa Mekrech and Villino Chappelle in St Paul’s Bay (in this case, developers have submitted plans for the construction of 54 flats and about 90 parking spaces; this would destroy about two-thirds of the garden, which is full of mature trees) is particularly worrying when you consider the importance of old houses and palazzos from a heritage point of view. In addition, the gardens of historic properties also serve as vital green lungs in heavily built-up and polluted areas.
The question remains, why do the authorities continue to disregard the benefits of trees in urban zones by uprooting or planning to uproot numerous trees in towns and villages?
Mepa said in a statement earlier this month that it favours the retention of mature trees wherever possible, but specific permits for uprooting trees are required in certain cases. However, the authority said it has repeatedly encouraged the safeguarding of trees, even in projects where the trees were not protected through legislation.
If the retention of such trees is not possible due to project constraints, transplantation within the same site or to a different location is required.
“If this is not possible, the authority may, in exceptional circumstances, allow for the removal of such trees and request compen- satory planting whereby the number of new trees will have to be significantly higher than that removed,” said Mepa.
Meanwhile, close to 2,500 people have signed a petition, set up by FAA, which calls on the authorities to stop destroying trees.
Among other things, the petition says: “The majestic trees of Senglea and Mellieħa are replaced by tarmac and paving. Residents of Żebbuġ, Fgura, Xewkija and Sliema miss the beautiful mature trees that lined their roads and sea-shore, while tourists at Victoria are shocked to see the iconic trees of It-Tokk reduced to mere trunks.
“...I am now told that the government will be cutting down 2,000 more trees in order to ‘upgrade’ the roads at Salina, Kappara, Senglea and Floriana, opposite the Phoenica Hotel.”
The petition is addressed to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, Tourism, the Environment and Culture Minister Mario de Marco, and Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Minister Austin Gatt.
The petition can be accessed through this link: http:// www. change. org/ petitions/stop-killing-trees-in-malta.