"It is always a pleasure to visit a work-in-progress at key stages in its completion because this gives you the opportunity to really appreciate the efforts that have gone into the project," said Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change, Leo Brincat, on his second official visit to Buskett since the Life Saving Buskett project was launched in August 2014.
This project, which is part funded by the European Union Life+ programme and is scheduled to run until May 2018, aims to protect and enhance the habitats of this largest semi-natural woodland in Malta by regenerating its watercourse, protecting the stability of the ground on its valley sides and removing the alien species that are harming habitats. The works which need to have been carried out by the end of the project include the rehabilitation and construction of about 80 retaining walls, the reconstruction and re-instatement of 49 arch buttresses which span part of the watercourse, the removal of alien plants which are competing with native species and the planting of 3,300 indigenous trees, grown from seeds or cuttings deriving from local stocks, which will extend the existing woodland coverage by almost 38,000m2.
The works are being carried out by a team of 23 workers, 15 of whom have been specifically engaged by the PARKS Directorate for the project. The PARKS Director, Herman Galea, expressed his satisfaction with the works carried out so far, particularly with the progress made on the re-instatement of the arch buttresses, 25 of which have to be constructed anew as the original arches, which date back to the time of the Knights, have long been swept away. Each of the arches had to be designed in situ by a team of architects as each one is unique and needs to be custom made to fit across the watercourse the width of which varies from 2.9m to 5m in one stretch alone. Before the arch buttresses could be put into place the retaining walls had to be rehabilitated. In some cases this meant taking the wall apart and reconstructing it using the original stones. The watercourse was also cleared of invasive species, excess silt and boulders. The reconstructed retaining walls will help reduce soil erosion and keep the waterways clear for water to flow through come the next rains.
The tree planting aspect of the project is also well on track with 1,500 native trees already in place after having been grown and nurtured in the PARKS nursery. The tree species include white poplar, hoary elm, narrow-leafed ash, white willow, Mediterranean willow, carob, olive, bay laurel, lentisk, Mediterranean buckthorn, aleppo pine and holm oak. The passageways which weave through the wooded areas created by these trees will be upgraded so that members of the public - including the families, groups of schoolchildren, elderly and youths who regularly visit this area - will be better able to experience and appreciate the beauty and richness of this woodland area.
Minister Brincat concluded his visit by thanking the PARKS Directorate for its efforts in maintaining and enhancing this Natura 2000 site for present and future generations.
Life Saving Buskett is a project part financed by the European Union Life+ programme created by the PARKS Department within the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change. It was launched in August 2014 and will run until May 2018.
www.lifesavingbuskett.org.mt