ERA had issued a permit (EP 1472/22) in February authorising the removal of the trees. The application is linked to the Planning Authority permit (PA/04777/20) for the Hili Group’s proposed development of 16 villas, 44 swimming pools and a 71-room hotel on Comino. Movement Graffitti has argued that the project would “irreversibly damage Comino as we know it” and noted that the Planning Authority permit remains the subject of an ongoing legal challenge by several NGOs. The NGO called on ERA to refuse the application, or at the very least postpone any decision until the legal proceedings over the Planning Authority permit have been concluded. Such a decision would demonstrate that, rather than fulfilling its duty to protect the environment, ERA is choosing to facilitate the interests of powerful developers.”