Dedicated to greening
Gozo by:
planting the right tree,
in the right place,
the right way
Siġar (which means ‘trees’ in Maltese) is committed to planting young trees on school grounds and local council lands with plants nurtured from local seeds from the Gozo Plant Nursery and Experimental Farm.
A map of current tree planting projects across Gozo, Malta.
23
Trees Planted
22
Adopted Plants
7
Community Collaborations
Tree Planting Project at Nadur Primary School – January 2025
Collaborating with Communities for a Greener Gozo
With less than 2% forest cover in Malta, Siġar is committed to enriching Gozo’s landscapes through sustainable tree planting. Our projects will complement other larger afforestation initiatives by focusing on urban areas.
By planting the right tree, in place, in the right way, Siġar will seed and share best practices with its volunteers and members of the public
Latest Social News
Earlier today, Sigar volunteers joined EcoGozo Botanist Stephen Mifsud to help with the successful removal of the invasive plant species, the African Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum).
The aim of such sessions is to take steps to safeguard Gozo's natural environment against the spread of the invasive and harmful plant.
A dedicated Facebook page (link below) has been set up to enable residents and visitors to easily share location details of any Fountain Grass plants seen growing anywhere on the island. The plant can grow both in the wild and in urban settings (streets, squares, field walls, and alongside footpaths, etc.).
www.facebook.com/groups/1824526311295357/
This work was part of an ongoing initiative set up on the island in 2018 by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning. For more information on the project, read this earlier Times of Malta article timesofmalta.com/article/eradicating-invasive-alien-species-the-battle.910414
#ecogozo #fortchambray #invasivespecies #penniseteum #endemicplants #nature #gozomalta #ghawdex #volunteering #
World Soil Day 2025
Healthy soils are the foundation of life on Earth. Each year on 5 December, World Soil Day (WSD) celebrates soils and raises awareness of their importance for sustainable agrifood systems, climate action, biodiversity, and human well-being.
The theme for 2025, “Healthy soils for healthy cities”, focuses on the role of soils in cities and the challenges posed by soil sealing and urbanization. With two-thirds of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, soils are the foundations of sustainable and resilient cities.https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/resources/events/detail/en/c/1742916/
The Importance of Soil for ….
• Food security: Soils provide the foundation for at least 95% of the
food we eat, supporting plant growth and providing the nutrients
necessary for food, feed, fuel and fiber.
• Climate regulation: Soils are a major carbon sink, storing more
carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined. They also play a role in regulating the climate and can mitigate floods.
• Ecosystem services: Soil, particularly peatlands, filter and store
water, recycle nutrients and help regulate the global climate by storing carbon dioxide and other gases and preserving peat.
• Biodiversity and resources: Soils are a reservoir for minerals, water
and air. There is an extraordinary diversity of organisms that call soil
home – including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes, insects and earthworms – with many life-saving drugs originating from soil
microbes.
• Sustainable development: Protecting soils is critical for achieving
Sustainable Development Goals, as soil degradation threatens food
security, nutrition, and the ability to adapt to climate change
Pleased to see that 13 palm trees stumps were removed Gozo College Ġużé Aquilina Primary & Special Unit Sannat. Work undertaken by eco gozo with input from Siġar. The school will be able to use this field for their environment activities.
Good CSR activity !
Thank you Dorine van Heerdt for her donation and Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council for their collaboration and support.
It will found our activities and purchase of tools and materials.
Much appreciated !
Baskal Saliba
#trees
#gozomalta
#volunteering