The appeal by NGO Moviment Graffiti against ERA permits for the destruction of carob trees in Dingli is a make or break for ERA’s image and reputation.
The Planning authority (in the portfolio of the Ministry for the Environment) asked Infrastructure Malta (IM) to proceed with the construction of a schemed road at Dingli. Before one could say Jack Robinson, IM applied for a permit to chop down the carob trees in its way. ERA (also in the portfolio of the Ministry for the Environment) willingly complied and issued the necessary tree destruction permit. Immediately, trees started to be destroyed by IM, until Graffiti appealed against the tree destruction permits issued by ERA.
The appeal is being heard by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) chaired by a (temporary) ex-employee of the Planning Authority.
Entrusted with the responsibility to safeguard and protect the biodiversity of the Maltese islands, ERA is rapidly losing its vision on biodiversity protection. The ham-handed decisions taken by ERA, are going from bad to worse, irritating all environmental stakeholders. To the extent that voluntary environmental entities are taking legal measures against ERA. The great chasm dividing environmental stakeholders’ vision and ERA is indeed alarming, making the latter seemingly leaning more towards development than to biodiversity protection principles.
During the hearing, ERA’s representative was asked by Dr Claire Bonello if ERA took in consideration the negative impacts on birds and insects following the destruction of the carob trees in question. The shocking reply was that “the Authority’s (ERA) remit is only regarding the intervention on trees.”
What a shocking statement! What a let-down to biodiversity conservation principles! What a populist approach by this supposedly scientific authority! What a self-defeating statement! What a self-inflicted blow below the belt to an authority which everyone looks upon to protect the natural environment and resources of our country! What an embarrassment to the academics who sit on ERA’s board!
ERA was also asked about the procedures for the issuing of such permits. It seems that the Environment Resource Directorate forwards its recommendations to the ERA Board which approves the issuing of the permit. ERA does not even bother with any self-inflicted embarrassment!
Such is the pitiful state of this official scientific authority. The value of old, healthy urban carob trees is priceless. If ERA was worth its mettle, and could understand the ecological, economic, social, aesthetical and hydrological value of these carob trees it has endorsed for destruction, it would have immediately issued a Tree Protection Order, and possibly declared a Tree Protection Area where they grow. Instead it issued a permit for their destruction.
The vigour and strength of this official scientific Authority are conspicuous by their absence in this issue: no consideration to protect biodiversity, not only on behalf of this generation, but also for the coming generations who have lent us these natural treasures.
ERA has lost its vision, its direction, and abdicated from its responsibilities as shown by approving the destruction of so many mature protected trees across the island.
The farcical compensatory planting measures for the destruction of such magnificent priceless trees is another measure how ERA fools itself. No amount of trees planted in place of the magnificent mature carob trees at Dingli can compensate for the destruction of the carob trees in question. And ERA has asked for the replanting of 30 trees as a compensation for those destroyed. ERA may fool itself, but it cannot fool the intelligence of the majority of the people by its circus calculator.
While visiting the carob trees in question, I met some residents who together with those who cultivate the adjacent fields are against such a road, which they have been told is a very ‘important’ one. I asked if they had asked for help from the home grown Minister from Dingli. The look in their eyes explained it all.
Unfortunately, the residents and farmers do not have the fortune, the means or the opportunity to go and live in the pricey Dingli outskirts at Simblija. They will have to be exposed to the emissions of vehicular traffic as this road manoeuvres round the bends and corners in the neighbourhood.
ERA turned a blind eye to all this. But what can one expect from politically handpicked academics?
The Tribunal’s decision will without doubt decide ERA’s future image. It can confirm that ERA is an Authority in shambles, unworthy and incapable of rising to the occasion to protect Maltese biodiversity in the name of the Maltese people, acting as a circus facade for political decisions.
With such a circus image in the biodiversity conservation field, the Minister in whose portfolio these entities sit might just as well go fishing.
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alfredbaldacchino.wordpres.com