The decision by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) regarding the development in Comino by the Hili Group has placed an obligation on the applicant to plant 540 new indigenous trees on the island.
This commitment stems from an ERA condition requiring the applicant to plant 10 trees for each of the 54 protected trees that will be removed under the development permit for Comino.
These trees form part of a group of 678 trees and shrubs, mostly oleanders and ornamental palms, that will be removed.
Of this group, 92% are not protected tree species.
In addition, another 348 trees, all but seven of which are protected, will be transplanted within the same site.
The applicant is legally required to plant 10 trees from the same Maltese genetic stock for every tree that is not successfully transplanted.
These plans, covered by the development permit for Comino, are supported by ERA’s scientific expertise as well as the findings of the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment carried out by the applicant, which examined the impacts of the project, including those on trees and vegetation.
These obligations ensure that mitigation and compensation measures, also informed by scientific studies, are in place to minimise environmental impacts resulting from these interventions.
7 August 2026
