I would like to comment on Stephen Calleja’s article “Environmentalists’ action ‘causing great harm’ to economy” (TMIS, 6 September).

I am very grateful to people who are “environmentally conscious” such as members of Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA), especially Astrid Vella, who has helped our family make its voice heard to protect the tal-Papa field at Birzebbuga which was earmarked for development.

May I remind readers that this field has around 200 fruit trees, some of them endemic and protected in Malta, five World War II shelters which today serve as water reservoirs and are home to the endemic painted frog and bats. The system of water harvesting through hand-dug canals in rock is unique to the Maltese Islands. All this would have been lost, buried under more blocks of flats, hadn’t it been for the help of FAA and many kind hearted, committed people who gave their time free of charge to help us protect the site.

Mr Calleja complains about the government listening to the environmentalists. If it is and leads to Mepa and the government taking wise decisions to protect the environment what’s wrong with that? Building a block of flats would have given work to a few people for a number of months but then they would have been up for sale for years as Malta is full of unsold flats! Our treasures would have been lost by then.

“Only after the last tree has been cut down

“Only after the last river has been poisoned

“Only after the last fish has been caught

“Only then will we realise that we cannot eat money” (Cree Indian).

Lucienne Pace

BIRZEBBUGA