Twenty-two trees were last weekend planted by the National Statistics Office as part of the 34U campaign, aimed at making Malta greener, cleaner and healthier. Management and staff joined forces in this tree-planting event, held at the Għajn Tuffieħa camping site, as part of various activities to commemorate the International Year of Statistics. The 22 trees planted are Aleppo Pines (siġar taż-żnuber), which are indigenous to the Maltese Islands.

The Aleppo Pine, which grows in most Mediterranean countries, was almost completely eradicated from the wild in Malta at the beginning of the last century. However, a few pines of native stock at San Anton Gardens saved the tree population since the seeds from these trees were used in afforestation schemes. The tree is protected through national legislation.