English Version :
Malta launches its participation in the European Commission’s platform MapMyTree
The government planted 35,600 trees and shrubs in various parks and natural sites in more than 54 localities across Malta and Gozo in 2022.
Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli explained that these trees will be one of Malta’s first contributions to the European Union objective of planting three billion trees by 2030.
During a tree planting activity at Majjistral Park, the minister explained that the trees that different government entities are planting as part of this environmental initiative will be registered on MapMyTree, a web application launched by the European Commission. Ambjent Malta is coordinating Malta’s participation in this application.
This app, which is available at mapmytree.eea.europa.eu, is open to everyone, and not only for government entities. Individuals, businesses, and organisations who plant indigenous trees to enrich Malta’s biodiversity and reduce the impacts of the climate emergency can register them to contribute towards the attainment of the three billion trees target.
Minister Dalli thanked the government entities, voluntary organisations and business who are planting more and more trees and shrubs in Malta and Gozo every year.
“This initiative goes beyond our contribution towards the European afforestation targets. The trees that we are planting are an important way of preserving our natural environment. They also contribute to our long-term plan for more green open spaces, where families can relax and enjoy a better quality of life closer to nature. MapMyTree is another tool which will help us implement this environmental plan,” said Minister Dalli.
The minister also reminded that the ministry has just launched the agency Project Green, which will push forward the Government’s seven-year plan to invest €700 million in the creation of green open spaces in every locality. Amongst its first projects, in 2023 Project Green is planting 7,500 indigenous trees, which will be funded by the private sector to achieve their ESG commitments.
The EU established its three billion trees target by 2030 as part of the European Green Deal, an environmental plan for Europe’s sustainability and environmental resilience, in reaction to the 2020 pandemic. This target also forms part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
Ambjent Malta Director Josianne Muscat explained that whilst measuring Europe’s progress towards this goal, the MapMyTree web app is also raising awareness on the importance of afforestation and environment protection in Malta.
Ambjent Malta General Director Herman Galea, Environment and Resources Authority CEO Kevin Mercieca and Parks Malta Director General Adrian Attard participated in this tree-planting event as well.
Maltese Version
Il-gvern iħawwel 35,600 siġra u arbuxell f’54 lokalità fl-2022
Malta tibda s-sehem tagħha fil-pjattaforma MapMyTree tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea
Il-Gvern ħawwel 35,600 siġra u arbuxell f’diversi ġonna u siti naturali f’aktar minn 54 lokalità f’Malta u Għawdex fl-2022.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli qalet dan waqt li kienet qed tħabbar kif dawn is-siġar ser ikunu fost l-ewwel kontribuzzjonijiet ta’ Malta għall-mira tal-Unjoni Ewropea li l-Ewropa tħawwel tliet biljun siġra sal-2030.
Waqt tħawwil ta’ siġar fil-Park tal-Majjistral, il-Ministru spjegat kif is-siġar li diversi entitajiet tal-gvern qed iħawlu bħala parti minn din l-inizjattiva ambjentali Ewropea se jiġu rreġistrati f’MapMyTree, l-applikazzjoni onlajn (website app) li nediet il-Kummissjoni Ewropea stess, u li f’Malta qed tiġi kkordinata minn Ambjent Malta.
Din l-applikazzjoni, li tinsab fis-sit mapmytree.eea.europa.eu, hija miftuħa għal kulħadd, mhux biss għall- entitajiet governattivi. Individwi, negozji u organizzazzjonijiet li jħawlu siġar indiġeni bl-għan li jsaħħu l- bijodiversità ta’ pajjiżna u jnaqqsu l-impatti tal-emerġenza fil-klima jistgħu jirreġistrawhom biex jikkontribwixxu għall-mira Ewropea ta’ tliet biljun siġra fit-tmien snin li ġejjin.
Il-Ministru Dalli rringrazzjat lill-entitajiet governattivi, għaqdiet volontarji u negozji li sena wara l-oħra qed iħawlu ħafna siġar u arbuxelli madwar Malta u Għawdex.
“Lil hinn mis-sehem ta’ pajjiż żgħir bħal tagħna fil-miri Ewropej tal-afforestazzjoni, l-eluf ta’ siġar li qed inħawlu huma importanti sabiex inkomplu nseddqu l-ambjent naturali ta’ pajjiżna. Jiffurmaw ukoll parti mill-pjan fit-tul li noħolqu aktar spazji miftuħa fejn il-familji jistgħu jistrieħu u jgħixu kwalità ta’ ħajja aħjar qrib in-natura. MapMyTree hija għodda oħra li qed tgħinna biex flimkien inwettqu dan il-pjan ambjentali,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Ministru fakkret ukoll li l-Ministeru għadu kif waqqaf l-aġenzija Project Green sabiex tiffoka u tixpruna t- twettiq ta’ dan il-pjan tal-gvern li f’seba’ snin jinvesti €700 miljun fil-ħolqien ta’ spazji ħodor miftuħa f’kull lokalità. Fost l-ewwel proġetti tagħha, fl-2023 Project Green ser tħawwel mas-7,500 siġra indiġena, li ser jiġu ffinanzjati mis-settur privat bħala parti mill-impenn tagħhom lejn il-prinċipji tal-ESG.
L-Unjoni Ewropea stabbilixxiet il-mira ta’ tliet biljun siġra sal-2030 bħala parti mill-European Green Deal, il- pjan ambjentali li se jgħin l-Ewropa tikseb is-sostenibilità u r-reżiljenza ambjentali meħtieġa b’reazzjoni għall- impatti tal-pandemija tas-sena 2020. Din il-mira tifforma wkoll parti milI-Istrateġija tal-UE dwar il-Bijodiversità 2030.
Josianne Muscat, Direttur fi ħdan Ambjent Malta, spjegat li filwaqt li tkejjel il-progress Ewropew lejn din il-mira, l-applikazzjoni MapMyTree qed tgħin ukoll biex tqajjem kuxjenza pubblika dwar l-importanza tal-afforestazzjoni u l-ħarsien ambjentali f’pajjiżna.
Preżenti għal din l-attività kien hemm ukoll id-Direttur Ġenerali ta’ Ambjent Malta Herman Galea, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Awtorità għar-Riżorsi u l-Ambjent Kevin Mercieca u d-Direttur Ġenerali ta’ Parks Malta Adrian Attard.