As someone who has lived in Malta for many years, I have come to deeply appreciate the quiet beauty and resilience of the carob tree — or ħarruba, as it’s known locally. These trees are not just part of the scenery; they are living monuments, markers of the rural heritage and natural history of these islands. Their shade, strength, and permanence are qualities that have shaped our landscapes and villages for centuries.

But today, these same trees are under threat. All across Malta and Gozo, mature carob trees — many of them over 50 years old — are being uprooted and lost to development. Sometimes this happens even within Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs), places that were specifically designated to protect the landscape character of our towns and villages.

As development pressures increase, it seems that the balance has tipped too far: we are losing too many of these trees, and with them, part of the soul of this country.

This petition is a call to pause, reflect, and act. We are asking the Planning Authority, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and all Local Councils to adopt a clear, firm commitment: that mature carob trees will be protected from removal or uprooting, regardless of zoning or development pressures.

Specifically, we call on them to:

Refuse any future permits that would allow for the felling or removal of these trees.
Ensure that any new developments fully respect the presence of mature carob trees, integrating them into designs as valued and living features of Malta’s environment.
Affirm that carob trees are a key part of our national identity and must be preserved for future generations.
Carob trees cannot simply be replanted and replaced — it takes decades for them to mature, and centuries for them to weave themselves into the character of the land as they have done. Once gone, they are gone forever.

This is not about opposing all development. It is about recognizing that there are certain features of Malta’s landscape that should never be sacrificed. The mature carob tree is one of them.

By signing this petition, you are joining a call for stewardship and respect — not just for trees, but for the long memory of this land and its people. Together we can ensure that Malta’s carob trees remain standing: respected, protected, and allowed to continue enriching the landscape for generations to come.