Xrobb l-Ghagin is a small peninsula in the south of Malta to the northeast of the village of Marsaxlokk. It has been abandoned since 1996 when the Deutsche Welle radio station closed down. The site has a total area of 155,950 square metres and is protected as a scheduled Area of Ecological Importance. It is enclosed by a high perimeter wall except for the north side, which is open to the sea cliffs in the area.
Nature Trust (Malta) together with the International Ocean Institute is carrying out a project that will allow the site to be used for environmental education purposes and also serve as a recreation area for the public. The building will be used to house administrative offices, an educational centre, a research centre, a dormitory and a rehabilitation centre for wild animals, birds, dolphins and turtles. The building will also have a Marine Research centre.
The project has been divided into two key areas of responsibilities. The institute will focus on the Marine Research Centre while Nature Trust (Malta) will focus on the afforestation project and restoration of the garigue area, the educational centre and dormitory and the rehabilitation centre.
The afforestation project will include the planting of over 15,000 indigenous trees and shrubs. Earlier this year, HSBC, through its HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund, committed itself to sponsoring the afforestation part of the project at Xrobb l-Ghagin. The funding will amount to a total of Lm45,000 over three years for the planting of trees. HSBC will be the only organisation involved in tree planting at this site.
In the first months of this year, a total number of 4,600 trees were planted, which included Aleppo pines, tamarisks, and carob trees and shrubs typical of the area. Another 400 trees and shrubs will be planted in October/November this year. This means that one third (5,000) of the trees projected for the area will have already been planted on the site during 2006.
The trees at the Xrobb l-Ghagin site are being maintained by the Parks Department since the project is also in partnership with the 34U campaign by the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment.
A team of architects also started studying the ex-Deutsche Welle premises with the aim of submitting an application to the Malta and Environment Planning Authority for the full restoration of the building. This building will eventually be used as a Research Centre for the International Ocean Institute and the University of Malta, as well as an education centre and interpretation centre for visitors by Nature Trust (Malta) and a rehabilitation centre for injured wildlife run by Nature Trust (Malta) and its partners International Animal Rescue.
Nature Trust (Malta) has also applied for EU funding to cover the expenses of the restoration of the building, management and maintenance of the park and to set up alternate energy concepts to make the park as sustainable as possible and to create awareness on clean energy concepts to visitors to this park.
Nature Trust (Malta) would like to thank HSBC for its environmental concepts and for being one of the lead companies in our islands to contribute towards our natural heritage.
Vince Attard is the president of Nature Trust (Malta)