Birdlife Malta (BLM), who quite recently insisted that they do not oppose legal hunting or trapping, state: “In a classic environmental campaign you would look to build relationships with organisations like the FKNK.” Mr Micklewright, the newly appointed executive director, said that the onus is on the FKNK to change its approach.

Notwithstanding all the rhetoric, BLM’s way of building relationships is an electoral campaign aimed at inciting the public against legal hunting. Directing their efforts at illegalising legal spring hunting and the popularity of hunting in Malta, they now demand that Malta’s designated Natura 2000 sites be declared no-hunting zones. Is the BLM aware that the European Union underlines that: “Hunting is only one of the many potential uses of Natura 2000 sites and that there is no general presumption against hunting in Natura 2000 areas under the nature directives”?

Rather than attempting to hijack the electorate to support their anti-hunting stance, BLM would do well to respect the project www.huntinginmalta.org.mt/uploads/90/892/NATURA_2000_Write-up_in_English-October_2007.pdf entered into by their partners, Birdlife International, and FACE (Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation in the EU) with regard to “Natura 2000 and Sustainable Hunting in Europe” and to show their commitment towards an agreement urging reconciliation in Malta.    

This last agreement www.birdlife.org/news/extra/europe/face_statement.html is a call to “exercise restraint and to avoid any escalation”. By deceitfully claiming not to oppose hunting, and at the same time trying to garner support to illegalise legal spring hunting and ban hunting in all Natura 2000 sites – all predominantly owned or leased by hunters, BLM is doing just the opposite and only adding to the animosity their provocative actions invariably cause.

David Borg Cardona

Secretary, St Hubert Hunters