[WATCH] eNGOs urge authorities to invest in professional tree care following botched UoM project

E-NGOs urge authorities to invest in professional care of trees

Environmentalist groups including Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), Friends of the Earth, KSU and Y4TE have spoken out to urge authorities to take the care of trees more seriously and to train people to ensure that pruning exercises are always professional.

Speaking during a press conference at the University of Malta racing track, FAA coordinator Astrid Vella condemned the University’s decision to award the pruning project to the “cheapest” contender, and insisted that more attention should have been given to the project, including surveillance throughout the exercise.

Authorities at the University of Malta issued a statement earlier today to say they were disappointed and that they regretted the “unfortunate outcome resulting from the extreme pruning of the olive trees at the University race-track.”

“This was a serious misjudgement and care will be taken in future to ensure that such actions will never be repeated,” the statement reads.

Reacting to the statement, Vella said that FAA was particularly shocked by the fact that the contractor chosen had been selected regardless of his track record of botching several other pruning jobs including in Rabat and Zejtun.

The University statement added that the University staff responsible for the pruning of the olive trees had requested four quotations for the pruning of the olive trees and removal of debris, in an effort to address these complaints and to rejuvenate the trees.

“The quotations were evaluated by the Precincts Office in accordance with the standard procedures established by the Procurement Directorate, and the most favourable offer was chosen,” they say, adding that the contractor had previously done satisfactory pruning work on Campus.

“The service provider was meant to prune the trees in such a way as to limit their eventual height after regrowth and to strengthen them over the next two years,” they say, adding that another thirty olive trees will be planted in the same area, at the appropriate time later on in the year.

“This serious matter is being looked into in detail by the University authorities to determine whether further action should be taken.”

She added that the explanation that the trees might have been diseased, was not acceptable and presented a study by Global Tree Care, which proves that the trees were in fact in good health and did not require such extreme pruning.

Former assistant director at the Environment Protection Directorate, Alfred Baldacchino pointed out that if the trees had indeed been unwell, there were alternate methods of dealing with them including a pruning of certain sections of the tree rather than the whole thing.

He further questioned whether the necessary precautions had been taken to ensure that spores from the trees did not spread once the trees were being transported from the track. 

Referring to the University’s statement that olive trees had grown inordinately high and the upper branches had dried up, Baldacchino added that his was further proof of the inadequate type of pruning carried out during past years.

“If this lack of professionalism is being accepted at the University of Malta, then what hope is there for the rest of the country?”

He added that the excuse that the Gzira local council had raised residents’ concerns about safety and security issues following burglaries in the area, and that leaves and olives were falling onto parked cars, were “ridiculous”.

FAA also went on to urge the government to enact a new trees and woodland protection act, something a working group including the FAA had already drafted in 2011.

They further questioned whether any action would be taken against the contractor in question, and insisted that anyone attempting pruning projects, should be given the appropriate training.

Baldacchino also pointed out that the botched pruning would have a dire effect on biodiversity and air quality in the area.

“If we continue to remove these trees and enjoyable open spaces in the country, then we will continue to encourage people to stay indoors and promote a sedentary lifestyle, conducive to obesity and health issues,” environmental expert John Paul Cauchi.

Y4TE representative Julia Farrugia also pointed out that the disappearance of the trees had been noted by students who regularly enjoyed visiting the area during their breaks. She went on to question why the area surrounding the trees had been covered in what looks like construction waste or materials that would definitely not support the growth of the trees.