Justin Camilleri
Researchers from European Union member states and representatives from business and NGOs talked about how nature and biodiversity contribute to improving citizen's quality of life and sustaining the economy at the European Commission's Green Week 2015 conference from the 3rd till the 5th June.
With circular economies at the centre of the debate in 2014, the European Commission's Green Week 2015 current satellite events theme is Nature, our health, our wealth.
The European Commissioner for the Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Karmenu Vella who attended the main Green Conference in June said: "It is vital that our legislation is fit for purpose, for we cannot have a good economic system without good ecosystems". Mr Vella added: "2015 saw the publication of EU Biodiversity policy review which assesses the current state of European biodiversity. While the species and habitats protected by EU directives are beginning to show modest signs of improvement providing a first indication that the legislation. However, the overall EU status of species and habitats has not significantly changed over the last six years, with many habitats and species still in unfavourable status and a significant proportion of them continuing to deteriorate."
The European Commission is prioritizing the vital importance that people must be one with nature and that protecting nature improves citizen's quality of life. The result of integral cooperation among the 28 EU Member States is Natura 2000. Enshrined in EU law, the Natura 2000 network of protected areas serves environmental and economic functions from living in harmony with natural ecosystems to maintaining jobs as around 4.4 million jobs are on Natura 2000 sites and many of these jobs depend directly on healthy ecosystems in Europe.
Natura 200 sites in Malta include the Buskett-Girgenti area, Filfla, St Paul's islands, Selmunett, Is-Salini, Ta' Cenc area and Ghadira area. These are some of the most beautiful sites in Malta and Gozo and maintaining them in pristine state for present and future generations in everyone's duty. Teaching our children to love and respect these sites is imperative.
The Green Week 2015 satellite event 'Superheroes Saving Nature and Biodiversity' is currently being run by Euro Media Forum and will continue till November 2015. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/Euro.Media.Forum or email [email protected]