Today, Hon Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has inaugurated the European Garden at Xrobb l-Ghagin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Center, Marsaxlokk. The event was co-organized by the EDIC Central and EDIC Valletta, with the kind cooperation of Nature Trust.
Twenty eight (28) trees have been planted to represent one of each EU Member State within the European Union. The trees will form part of a wider initiative of an international NGO – ENO – Environment Online which is cooperating with LEAF Malta and is present in more than 150 countries through a virtual network of educators. ENO has made a commitment at the UN RIO+20 Summit of planting 100 million trees by 2017.
LEAF Malta is an international ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) programme run by Nature Trust Malta. It seeks to sensitizes young learners and youth alike to appreciate the intricate relationships that take place in local woodlands and in forests around the world and how these can be compromised by the choices we make each day. It is an outdoor learning opportunity for students to be actively engaged in order to address their concerns.
The EU has dedicated this year to the European Year for Development that seeks to raise awareness about what the EU is doing in the rest of the world to assist developing countries by exploring a number of themes. Each month of the year has been given a theme and the theme for October and November is Food Security, Sustainable Development and Climate Action.
The EU has also some of the world’s highest environmental standards. The EU’s Environmental policy builds a more sustainable European economy, generates jobs, protects nature, and safeguards the health and quality of life of people living in the EU.
Trees provide us with a number of benefits including the supply of oxygen and clean air and combating climate change. They are occasionally also a source of food and shade and prevent soil erosion. Through the European Garden the Europe Direct Centres seek to raise awareness about the European Year for Development by contributing towards the themes of the month and the EU’s Environmental strategy.
The activity is funded through the Europe Direct network of the European Commission and organized with the kind cooperation of Nature Trust.
Read Commissioner Vella’s speech:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/2014-2019/vella/announcements/european-garden-tree-planting-activity-malta_en
Co-Funded by the EU
