In just one year, Malta’s environment regulatory body permitted the uprooting of over 700 trees on the island.

The figure, of a total of 708 permits, was revealed in Parliament by Environment Minister Miriam Dalli as she answered a parliamentary question tabled by PN MP Darren Carrabot.

However, this figure does not include the uprooting of another 257 trees, which did not need a permit due to not being indigenous trees. ERA does not intervene when it comes to trees which are not indigenous to the Maltese islands – thus, a permit is not needed.

Out of all the uprooted trees, only 462 were transplanted and located in a new site.  

According to the figures which were presented in Parliament, showing trees which were uprooted between September 2022 and September 2023, the majority were cypress or olive trees.

What do you make of these statistics?