To date, 141 nations have endorsed the Declaration on Forests and Land Use formulated on the margins of the UNFCCC COP 26 meeting that was held last month in Glasgow, in a bid to stymie deforestation by 2030. This impressive list of countries commendably includes Malta which, although not sporting any forest cover worthy of note, still harbours pockets of woodland and mature trees, which, obviously, need safeguarding. A litmus test is currently on the table to assess the resolve of the local authorities in complying to such a declaration endorsement, to walk the walk, as the lingo goes, to show that charity actually starts at home. The Marsaxlokk local council has, in fact, submitted a planning application to relocate its currently inadequate facilities (consisting of just three rooms) to the gardens of the locality’s Sir Thomas More primary school, entailing the construction of offices, a public library and hall and a post office. The same proposals have attracted the opprobrium of scores of Marsaxlokk residents, environmental NGOs and even of a number of local councillors. This despite the earmarked site having a within-development zone status (no ODZ uptake issues involved),...