Watch: ‘What Do We Want For Gozo?’ – Protest Against Uprooting Of 200 Trees In Marsalforn Valley
Gozitan residents and activists took part in a protest against the planned uprooting of 200 mature trees from Marsalforn Valley as part of a road widening project.
Protestors tied black ribbons to trees that are set for the chop and questioned the need for the project seeing as the road in question isn’t renowned as a traffic hotspot.
“Where are the priorities?” questioned Luke Said, an activist from the eNGo Għawdix. “Speaking as a Gozitan and on behalf of my Gozitan friends who care about this islands environment, what do we want for Gozo?”
He said that while the road requires resurfacing works to pave potholes, the argument put forward by the authorities that the road needs to be widened to install a bike lane doesn’t make sense. In fact, he pointed out that cycling NGO Rota has opposed this project.
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The uprooting has been approved by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).
In its decision, ERA noted that the project will entail the uprooting of around 305 trees and shrubs, out of which 98 will be transplanted within the application site.
“The rest of the trees are either not transplantable or not considered favourable for transplanting in view of their invasive/alien nature,” ERA said.
A further 168 new indigenous trees with a minimum height of three metres will also be transplanted to the site.
“Such impact through the loss of trees will be mitigated through the proposed transplanting and the introduction of new indigenous trees,” ERA said. “In this regard, the impact is not considered to be significant as long as all necessary good practice safeguards are duly implemented to ensure successful transplanting.”
Cover photo Left: Għawdix
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