The environment has become an everyday discussion topic. People are becoming increasingly aware about the environment. Even at the trade fair, people were asking for environmentally friendly products, and surely not only to qualify for the government rebate. Matthew Xuereb spoke to Din l-Art Helwa president MARTIN GALEA about the environment, the recent vandalism attack on an afforestation project and about the organisation’s plans to care for Malta’s environment and natural heritage.

Following the incident in which around 3,000 trees were vandalised at the Foresta 2000 site in Mellieha, there was a great sense of support in the country. How much money has been collected so far to purchase new trees?

The uprooting and cutting down of the trees justifiably elicited an outcry as this was a case of mindless vandalism directed against the vast majority of people who have the environment at heart.

Minister George Pullicino can take credit for spearheading the campaign for raising funds so that the trees could be replanted. Such was the response that about Lm45,000 were collected, which would give us enough money to plant over three times that number.

Planting should start in October and it is hoped that there will also be an element of public participation so that individuals, companies, organisations and school children can also lend a hand in a project we can all call ours.

Are you informed of any development with regard to the police investigations?

As far as we are aware, the police have not been able to trace the culprits – at least not to the stage where they could be prosecuted.

What has “Din l-Art Helwa” done to increase the security in the area?

We are planning to install security cameras and the number of police patrols in the area has been stepped up. However, this is a massive area and, as with other properties which Din L-Art Helwa administers, it is subject to attacks by vandals.

Only last week, Santa Marija tower in Comino was broken into and furniture inside smashed. These acts only make us more determined to continue with our work. The long-term solution is education.

Turning to the new nature park in Ghajn Tuffieha, “Il-Majjistral”, are you glad that the government chose “Din L-Art Helwa” and Nature Trust to manage it?

Din L-Art Helwa has been in the forefront of the campaign to turn the northwest into a national park. We have been doing this consistently for over three years. The Prime Minister and Environment Minister had both immediately warmed to the idea but it has taken some time (partly due to the studies that had to be undertaken in the area) till this has become a reality.

We were of course very pleased that Din L-Art Helwa was chosen to manage the park along with Nature Trust and we also asked that the Gaia Foundation be brought on board as they have experience in this area. The management board has been set up and we are now drafting up the method statements and going through the public consultation process.

Did you take this as a sign that the government wants to involve more NGOs in the management of nature parks and cultural heritage sites?

Din l-Art Helwa already looks after a number of historical sites for government. These are mainly towers and forts around the island for which we have a guardianship agreement signed with the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage.

However, for us the Majjistral Nature and History Park was the second project of this type, after Foresta 2000 in Mellieha. In short, yes I think the government wants to be more inclusive. NGOs have developed, they are more accountable, they have a track record, they have skills and a contribution to make and they deserve to be involved.

How do NGOs work together? Do you always agree on everything?

There are many NGOs and it is not necessary that we always agree on everything. Generally we agree on principles but we may go about achieving them in different ways.

However, the main environment NGOs do cooperate and we have set up a Nature Group which consists of Din l-Art Helwa, Bird Life Malta, Gaia Foundation, Nature Trust, Ramblers Association, Friends of the Earth and Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar.

We share information and often come out with a common front. This is especially common with large projects where there is a lot of technical information to sift through and where the responses we are required to give are also technical.

What is happening in regard to this project? How many times has the committee chaired by Dr Stanley Zammit met?

The committee has met about five times and has held two public consultation meetings so far.

How will such a large project covering such an area affect Maltese families and the country?

Malta is the most overpopulated country in the world. In my lifetime, I have seen vast areas of countryside turned into development. For example, when I was young, apart from the British barracks at Pembroke, there was no building from St Julian’s to St Paul’s Bay. Now it is almost totally built up or the site of Malta’s largest rubbish dump.

Although much of the northwest is now outside the development zone, there is still considerable damage being caused on almost a daily basis – this in the form of illegal dumping, off-roading, hunters building hides, trappers destroying garrigue and creating roads for access, illegal building and access being blocked illegally by individuals. It is imperative that we now identify land which can be managed as a park and actively control the damage being caused.

The park will ensure that families will be allowed to enjoy the best of Malta’s countryside, the stunning scenery, fresh air and closeness to nature. They will be able to enjoy the flora and fauna which will be properly protected and managed.

In addition to this, visitors’ centres will allow for an educational experience, especially for school children. Guides will give information which will make the experience more enjoyable. Access will be available to all. Activities will include rambling, nature and history trails, horse riding, mountain biking, perhaps rock climbing and abseiling. These will be on specified tracks and areas to preserve the environment. As for picnicking and limited camping, these may be allowed if areas can be identified and where this does not impact on the environment.

Most countries have national (nature) parks and it is about time we had our own and started looking after what we have.

What is “Din l-Art Helwa”’s position on spring hunting? Do you really believe that it will be abolished forever?

Din L-Art Helwa is there to act as a lobby group in favour of Malta’s built and natural heritage. We are therefore in favour of any measures which will protect our environment. We are against spring hunting. I think the majority of people are against this and in time, it will be abolished, if nothing else, to abide by our commitments to the European Union.

What is “Din l-Art Helwa”’s position on the Ramla proposed development?

The permit should never have been issued at Ramla. It is in an area scheduled as high scenic value and the development (23 villas) is far too large. We are also unhappy at the way the permit was issued procedurally and have filed an appeal at Mepa to have the permit revoked.

In Gozo alone, there are a number of applications for large projects all having a negative impact on the environment and all outside the development zone. These include Ta’ Cenc, Hondoq ir Rummien, some high-rise developments in Xaghra, just to mention a few.

In Malta the situation is the same. We already have massive overdevelopment and we urgently need to preserve what is left of our open spaces as well as the streetscapes and monuments within our historic towns and cities. I think we agree that enough damage has been done.

Your predecessor, Martin Scicluna, once said: “The art and craft of successful lobbying is both to provide informed and constructive criticism and to cajole and, if necessary, hassle and harry those who have the power to make decisions, affecting our daily lives.” Do you agree with this and what is your style?

Din l-Art Helwa has been fortunate that since its foundation, its presidents have been likeminded. We have built up a reputation as being fair, serious and issue-based in our public pronouncements.

But we lobby on a number of levels, much of which is not in the public eye. We have many meetings with ministers, government department officials and at Mepa.

We have a subcommittee which makes detailed and technical objections to applications and we write letters on issues we feel are important to the officials concerned.

In some cases we go to the press and on major issues such as at Ramla, Xaghra il Hamra and Ta’, Cenc we run a campaign. All this is done by volunteers who have no issue other than to protect our common heritage. I am always surprised by the time and dedication of these volunteers, who have my respect and admiration.

Does “Din l-Art Helwa” have any plans for the near future?

We are not a large organisation, yet we have a massive mandate. Apart from lobbying, we restore and conserve about 20 historical properties and have now taken on the Nature Park.

This year we should complete the restoration of Delimara Lighthouse and Lunzjata fountain and have started the battery at Qala. Our own offices, which are in a historic building, will also be restored. We are appealing the Ramla decision at the appeals board and continue to raise numerous technical objections at Mepa.

On top of this we run fundraising events, concerts at Bir Miftuh chapel and open our properties to the public. So we are very busy and if there is anyone out there who wants to lend a hand, just give us a call. The work we do is challenging, interesting and very important.