MEPA has joined forces with other environmental agencies in Italy, Spain, Greece, Israel, Algeria and Morocco to work together and share experiences on management of protected areas.

The project titled “Parks Network” is part-funded by the EU through its Interreg 3C Programme (www.interreg3c.net) and has a total budget of e1,3 million of which MEPA was allocated e60,000 for its input over three years.

The project was launched in January last year with the aim of establishing a network to facilitate data-flow and exchange of experiences on management of natural rural areas in the Mediterranean region – a region with common cultural values, deep historical ties and similarities in biodiversity.

The project tackles a number of areas, including management of problematic species, wooded areas management, tourism management and the use of EU funds in relation to protected areas. The network also involves stakeholders through a series of thematic workshops and seminars.

MEPA is represented in this project by the Nature Protection Unit of the Environment Protection Directorate.

For further information contact the Nature Protection Unit on 2290 6003 or via e-mail at parks.malta@ mepa.org.mt. Information about this and other EU funded projects will be available shortly on the MEPA website www.mepa.org.mt.