The upcoming EP elections in June are a golden opportunity to push environmental issues further up the political ladder. Rather than sermonising, I will opt to forward tangible and feasible proposals in the environmental sphere, which can safeguard our natural heritage and environment, and in so doing also improve our quality of life.
The e855 million allocated to Malta for the 2007-2013 period under the cohesion policy (which in turn incorporates both Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds) hold bountiful promises for local environmental programmes. The structural funds in turn are distributed between the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority for example successfully tapped into the ERDF in 2006 and was in a position to commission scientific surveys in a marine area around Filfla, pursuant to eventually declaring a Marine Protected Area around the islet.
Operational Programme I contemplates the allocation of e140.5 million for projects related to the safeguarding of the environment (PA 5), e102 million for the development of sustainable tourism projects, e126.6 million for urban regeneration and improving the quality of life (PA 6) and e102 million for enhancing knowledge and innovation (PA 1). These make for a staggering e471 million (or 55 per cent of all allocated funds under the cohesion policy) dedicated in some way or another to the environment. In this figure, I am not including funds pegged to the upgrading of the roads network.
My pledge is to ensure that, if I get elected, I will ensure that these funds are utilised in the most judicious manner possible and are exploited to the full. In addition, I will endeavour for Malta to be allocated a bigger chunk of funding after the timeframe of the current cohesion policy expires, since negotiations on these would have started way before 2013.
Projects that spring to mind and which would do with an injection of funding are those concerned with the establishment of organic farming practices, further afforestation schemes, the better management of protected areas in order to curb acts of vandalism and human disturbance, and the further treatment of filtered sewage from the three sewage treatment plants (one is still at the planning phase) in order to use it for irrigation purposes. This would provide in turn some welcome solace for our beleagured groundwater sources. A local Natura 2000 site that is already benefiting from European help is the coastal garigue area at Pembroke, where efforts are underway by Nature Trust, Pembroke Local Council and MTA to develop a sustainable tourism project on site which in turn could help finance the conservation of the site and the protected fauna and flora it harbours. Some of the funds could also be utilised to train local NGOs in the methodologies required to apply under their own steam for European funds, or to develop further clinics dealing with the rehabilitation of injured wildlife, or even feral dogs and cats.
Independently from accession to EU funds, additional sorely needed action concerns the abolition of RTOs (Riservato signs) from public land and the eviction of squatters, in line with the stance taken by Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi, tougher enforcement on illegal buildings and a qualified moratorium on further ODZ development.
Eco tourism through reinforcement of existing walking trails should be promoted. I hope to be given the opportunity to elaborate on these aspects in the coming weeks.
Do you feel passionately about the environment? Then join my Facebook group and my campaign – together we can effect the change from within, against all odds.
“Alan Deidun is a committed environmentalist. He combines the knowledge and level headedness of the scientist with the passion and enthusiasm of the political campaigner. He has my support.” Prof. Friggieri – 3rd March.
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