Intent and Objectives: Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 31 January 2022

Closing date: 7 February 2022

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority

  1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is preparing the ‘Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands’.

Forestation practices in the Maltese islands typically involve the planting of trees and their upkeep for the further greening of the islands, enhancement of the environment and the enjoyment and benefit of the public. Forestation practices include processes such as afforestation of bare land, reforestation of areas previously covered with trees and habitat restoration to assist in the recovery of an ecosystem.

The Environment and Resources Authority intends to develop ‘Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands’, with the aim to provide a general guide for successful and functional tree-planting projects in both rural and urban environments. 

  1. Consultation

Intent

The main intent of the ‘Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands’ is to provide a quick guide in the form of practical pointers, recommendations and a checklist of general codes of good practice to enable a successful tree-planting initiative. The guidelines shall take into consideration the different stages of a tree-planting project; from concept, to design and to implementation phase.

The guidelines are intended to assist various entities ranging from (but not limited to) Governmental and private entities, local councils, voluntary organisations, businesses, professionals (such as landscape designers, contractors, developers, engineers), to the general public.

Objectives

The main objectives of the ‘Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands’ are to:

  1. promote environmentally friendly and ecologically sound forestation practices;
  2. encourage greening and ecological restoration incentives in different areas using suitable species;
  3. establish common standards of good forestation practices, in line with complimentary national legislation;
  4. encourage ownership and long-term maintenance of forestation projects; and
  5. support the implementation of the National Trees and Woodlands Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2030.

Consultation Questions

The Authority wishes to receive feedback on the above intent and objectives, as well as any other related issues linked with these aspects you feel as duly relevant or of attention.

Moreover, the following questions are also being put forward as part of this consultation:

  1. Can the objectives be further refined, keeping in mind the intent of these Guidelines?
  2. Should there be additional objectives and linkages not identified above?
  3. Which aspects would you consider as priorities?
  4. Do you have any further feedback or comments on the intent or objectives of these Guidelines?
  1. Submission of feedback

Comments will be received by email on: [email protected] by 7 February 2022.

  1. Further notes:

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft ‘Guidelines for Good Forestation Practices for the Maltese Islands’ will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/consultation-on-legislation-and-policy/