FAA calls for indigenous trees in Valletta entrance

Trees planted near the entrance to Valletta should be indigenous, and the existing mature trees should be integrated in the project, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) said.

"While FAA recognises the need to upgrade the area, the NGO maintains that with judicious planning this can be carried out sustainably in every sense.  The plan to remove around forty local mature trees and replace them with imported, non-indigenous trees needs to be re-examined urgently."

It said the Italian landscape company is proposing to plant some 45 Pinus pinea trees around the bus terminus area as was done at the Coliseum in Rome. 

"While this tree is in context in Italy, it is out of place against Maltese bastions. Being very sensitive, Pinus pinea is not easy to transplant; from the 30 or so planted at the bus terminus, seven or more have already died and some have been replanted. Considering that these cost up to €10,000 each, one has to keep in mind the excessive expense for 45 such pines to be planted around the Triton fountain."

The FAA Tree Group recommended that while existing mature trees should be integrated into the planting plan, any extra trees required could be indigenous (local) Poplar tree, Populus alba which are tall but not too dense.

 "Such trees can also grow quite fast if given the proper attention. This would be far more affordable and acceptable considering that the bastions, the focal point of this project, will be in the midst of local indigenous species, and not seen in the background of something which never grew in the Maltese Islands. "

The NGO pointed out that some of the trees to be destroyed are protected indigenous old oaks (Quercus ilex).

"Their replacement by non-indigenous trees adds to the lack of commitment to protect local biodiversity which Malta is committed to do by EU directives. This is the only urban oak canopy we have on the island and is iconic of the King Edward streetscape, the only large tree canopy and cooling element in the area."

FAA also welcomed the fact that the latest plans for the Valletta bus terminus upgrade no longer include changes to the Tritons Fountain.

The fountain's Grade 1 protection stipulates that it cannot be tampered with in any way, the NGO said.