The environmental NGOs Nature Trust (Malta), Din l-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Malta Ramblers Association , Gaia Foundation and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (Together for a Better Environment) voiced their concern about the way the hunting issue developed recently.

They deplored the way in which political parties still gave in to demands from hunters and trappers despite the parties’ continuous statements that they cared for the environment.

Birds were part of the natural environment, the NGOs said, and thus by right they too deserved protection. Spring is the season when birds migrate to breed. The more birds are killed during this season the higher is the risk of the populations of the species declining.

The NGOs noted that the two main political parties were still trying to gain electoral advantage in this issue by making promises to hunters before every election. The NGOs felt that with such promises the parties were only proving that they were selling away their environmental credentials despite their statements in favour of the environment.

The NGOs urged the political parties to unite on environmental issues since the environment was a national issue and not a partisan one. They said law enforcement had to be improved as today it was still very poor in the Maltese islands and, despite the promises made in the past by the authorities, regulations could not be enforced without the adequate human resources.

The NGOs condemned the actions of the ORNIS committee that was serving only as a political arm rather than operating on the terms of reference under which it was set up.