An afforestation project at the Majjistral Nature and History Park will lead to the planting of over 3,000 trees over the next four years. This project will be made possible thanks to an agreement signed between the German Kummer-Vanotti Foundation and the Heritage Parks Federation (HPF).
Made possible through the assistance of the Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development and Parks Malta, the German Foundation will be donating €50,000 to the Heritage Parks Federation, as a personal initiative to participate in afforestation projects.
This initiative will result in the planting of a total of 3,333 trees and shrubs in three different locations, mainly those of In-Naħħalija, Ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra and Il-Prajjet.
“Our commitment is to have more green open spaces. We are doing it as a government but we are also looking at entering into partnerships with NGOs, organisations and foundations who want to do their part in favour of the environment and contribute further as part of their CSR”, said Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli.
Christoph Dänzer-Vanotti, co-founder of the Vanotti Commerce Foundation, said that this afforestation project will contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and climate change.
Darren Saliba, Manager of the Majjistral Nature and History Park, welcomed the project as one that will continue to help regenerate the park.
The selected sites of In-Naħħalija, Ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra and Il-Prajjet are currently undergoing habitat regeneration works. Manager Darren Saliba explained that this donation will assist in the continuation of the regeneration work the HPF is carrying out in the area.
The Park was set up in 2008 and is managed by a federation of NGOs who teamed up together and formed the HPF to manage this site. The HPF has been carrying out several habitat regeneration exercises to upgrade areas that have been subject to degradation.
So far, the HPF have planted over 9,000 saplings along several areas of the Park as well as the removal of 4,500 tons of dumped material.
Photo: MESD
