Over 8,000 trees will have been planted by the end of the year through a national afforestation initiative, Environment Minister Jose Herrera said yesterday.

Speaking in Wied Blandun, Fgura, the minister said the government understands the importance of planting more trees around the country to improve the environment.

These indigenous trees are being planted at a number of sites, including Wied Blandun, Swatar, Marsaxlokk, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and Comino.

3,600 trees have been planted on Comino alone.

He also reiterated that Transport Malta will be planting 300 new trees to make up for the holm oak trees that were removed from Lija, to allow for the widening of a busy road. The uprooting of the Lija trees had led to an uproar.

Herrera also asked for the public's cooperation, insisting that valleys are important green lungs that need to be taken care of. He announced that the ministry is drafting a plan to strengthen environmental enforcement.

Last week, Partit Demokratiku held a press conference to speak on the appalling state of several valleys around Malta and Gozo, including Wied Qirda in Zebbug. The party called for a change in law so that valleys would automatically be designated as public domain.