The Government has today published a Command Paper for a Bill to improve the protection given to trees in Gibraltar, fulfilling what it claims is another manifesto commitment. The Environmental Protection (Trees) Bill 2013 brings together and improves upon various legal instruments that were included in several Acts.

It sets out the procedure for the issuing of Tree Preservation Orders and for applying to carrying out work on or removing trees.

The authority for granting permission under the proposed Act falls on the Development and Planning Commission, and appeals are referred to the Development Appeals Tribunal.

The Act applies to Crown, and there are exceptions on such grounds as safety and security.

The Command Paper can be accessed on the Laws of Gibraltar website: http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/commandpapers.php and comments can be sent by email to [email protected] or delivered to “Command Papers Consultation c/o Kevin Warwick, Ministry of Education, Telecommunications & Justice, Suite 771, Europort, Gibraltar” no later than 14 days after the date of publication of the Command Paper.