A Birdlife activist, Nimrod Mifsud of Gzira, this morning was charged with trespassing.
He also stands charged with exercising a pretended right on April 25 this year.
A court heard how public land in Mizieb and l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha were "hunting reserves" and were only accessible to hunters during the open season.
Lino Farrugia, the chief executive officer of the hunters' federation (FKNK) told Magistrate Charmaine Galea that the land was reserved exclusively for hunters in the open season following an agreement signed by former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici on 11 April, 1986.
Through this agreement, the public land in question was given to the FKNK to "administer". The agreement also stipulated that no unauthorised person/s could enter the reserves.
Mr Farrugia said the agreement was confirmed in October 1989 through "an endorsement" made by Guido de Marco who at the time served as deputy Prime Minister.
He pointed out that Birdlife had written to the Government Property Division in February 2011 complaining that the land in question was public land and should be accessible to everyone.
The GPD wrote back quoting the 1986 agreement, saying the land in question was designated by the government as a hunting reserve and restricted only to people performing hunting activities.
Mr Farrugia said there were signs put up at the site to make people aware that the site was not accessible to everyone.
Mr Farrugia said Dr Mifsud Bonnici wrote to the FKNK in May 2010 confirming the agreement.
The hunters who were present on the day of the incident, Kenneth Sciberras and Robert Booker, said that Mr Mifsud had entered the site accompanying BBC journalist Chris Packham and other foreigners, a group of five in all.
Mr Booker said the people were filming the hunters.
Under cross examination, the two men confirmed that even though they were five people, criminal action was taken against Mr Mifsud only.
The case is set to continue.
Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for Mr Mifsud while lawyer Kathleen Grima appeared parte civile for FKNK.