Trees are overrated – Justin Cauchi
Planting more trees is not a miracle solution to environmental degradation. Trees have unwittingly become the mascot of any cry against an unsavoury development. Be it a road-widening exercise where some trees are uprooted (with or without permits) or a new urban park where the few planted trees barely contrast the sea of grey coming from concrete, the centre of public outcry against such developments are always the infamous trees. And this constant media spotlight on trees has had an unexpected effect on people’s perception of what the environmental targets and regeneration of our country should look like. In short, anyone pro-environment would likely resort to the simple and easy to remember and understand slogan: “Plant more trees”. The result of this is that any civilian environmentalist movement is always tunnel-visioned on planting more trees wherever possible and simply stopping there, whereas the issue of climate change and environmental protection and regeneration is far more complex and requires a multitude of solutions to different aspects of the problem. So, what could be wrong with planting more trees? Trees themselves offer many services which are often touted as...