As Malta recently celebrated Arbor Day, Nature Trust encourages people to embrace the beauty and importance of trees not just because they purify our air, but also because they serve as an important habitat for many species and are inherently beautiful and improve the landscape where they are.

Nature Trust said this week that it is concerned by recent landscaping development applications in which hundreds of indigenous trees are being used for landscaping purposes especially for the Grand Harbour Regeneration projects.

"While this is positive, the fact that there are no sources of fully grown trees implies that such indigenous trees would likely be imported with the result that there would be genetic mixing with local species, besides the risk of introduction of diseases. Having certification does is not a fully guarantee that trees are pest-free. Nature Trust is also concerned about the loss of trees from urban areas especially those found within gardens of traditional Maltese character houses.

"Our cultural heritage must be protected from speculative developers by the Planning Authority and such gardens and trees are inherent elements of our heritage. Most often gardens are making way for garages."

Nature Trust manages two important sites: that of Wied Ghollieqa which has become the green lung between University and Kappara and Xrobb l-Ghagin in Delimara. Both areas have been planted with hundreds of local indigenous trees and shrubs grown specifically by Nature Trust volunteers. Besides, Nature Trust collaborates with various schools through the Leaf programme which sensitizes children to the importance of trees and plants and encourages the planting of local species within schools and local councils.

On Saturday, 14 January Nature Trust organised the first walk for the public the year in the area of Ghadira and Foresta 2000 where the importance of trees was also highlighted.