After less than a week, 1,000 signatures have already been collected in an online petition to call for a ban on hunting in the Majjistral Nature and History Park.
The petition can be viewed at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Majjistral/index.html
The Majjistral Park, which was declared as such in September, 2007, is currently being managed under contract by the government and Mepa, and by the Heritage Parks Federation, made up of three management NGOs: Din L-Art Helwa, Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust (Malta).
Over the past few months, more than 500 visitors have joined guided walks in the park to learn more about nature, while countless others have visited the park on their own.
The site forms part of an EU network of protected areas known as Natura 2000 and is home to a myriad of plants and animals including endemic species, seven breeding birds and other numerous migratory ones. Some very rare visiting birds have recently been recorded in the area. The vision for the park is to serve as a prime site for the full enjoyment of wild beauty and breathtaking landscapes by a growing number of tourists, locals and schoolchildren.
The aim of the petition is therefore to:
• increase the protection status of the area as a true National Nature and History Park
• ensure that the park can be enjoyed safely by the public at all times
• ensure conservation of the park’s biodiversity
• put an end to the widespread litter of lead and shotgun cartridges in the park.
The Heritage Parks Federation is asking the public to support the petition for a ban of hunting within the park boundary by signing on at http://www.ipetitions.com/
petition/Majjistral/index.html