Uprooted trees account for €1 out of every €3 in environmental fines

A third of fines by the environmental watchdog in the past two years were issued for the uprooting of trees, official figures show.

The Environment and Resources Authority told Times of Malta that between 2019 and September this year it had dished out more than €720,000 in fines for a number of environmental crimes and other offences. 

Nearly €275,000 of these related to trees, making up the largest proportion of fines dished out by the entity.

The remaining fines are related to a variety of environmental offences, ranging from criminal acts to minor misdemeanours.

However, a spokesperson for the ERA did not provide further information.

The government has come under scathing criticism for the way it has uprooted trees in the last few years, especially since the announcement of the Central Link roadworks project, which saw dozens of trees pulled out.

When the plans for the project were published it was revealed that trees which lined the road between Attard and Rabat would be torn down to make way for new asphalting.  

This was met with opposition by both environmentalists and residents.

However, the government still steamed ahead with the project. In March, activists also...