Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg today visited Fort Rinella in Kalkara, where it was announced that by the end of this year, Infrastructure Malta will have planted more than 6,700 trees with an investment of €1 million.

“It is fundamental to attain balance. I believe our vision is holistic and considers progress and development as an opportunity to improve quality of life, while insisting that this can only be true if we develop sustainably. We are sensitive to the environment around us. We want our children to have spaces where they can play. We want to enjoy open spaces. We want our country to have lungs. But this means nothing if air quality continues to deteriorate because of congestion,” said Minister Ian Borg.

He stressed that for this reason a number of plans have been prepared for an efficient road network and added that these plans have an element of sustainability as well. The Hon. Borg was pleased to share the news about this planting project and explained that in the last months, Infrastructure Malta has worked with a number of NGOs, entities and Local Councils to plant 2,200 trees in 13 different places, places which include Saqqajja Hill, the Marsa Junction Project site and the Għadira s-Safra Natura 2000 site, among others. He said that all this is being done through collaboration with a number of entities, including ERA.

At the same time, explained the minister, 4,500 trees remain to be planted in 31 different places by the end of this year, and said that the site he was visiting today would have more than 1,100 new trees in the coming weeks. The minister also explained that apart from planting, Infrastructure Malta has prepared a maintenance plan for these trees.

“The projects being carried out in arterial roads are not only drastically reducing emissions but include in their designs landscaped areas so that our country’s residents can have a more beautiful environment to travel through. And we are not stopping at roads. Here we can see hard work towards open spaces, like the work that will focus on the Malta National Park that will give all Maltese and Gozitan people a most beautiful place where they can disconnect from fast-paced day to day life. We want to look at every obstacle as an opportunity to contribute to a better environment and we are committed to continue doing this,” concluded Borg.