The recent news that Prime Minister Robert Abela had resurrected a proposal to turn over two areas – Mizieb and Ahrax - to the hunting lobby under a formal agreement has caused widespread concern and uproar.

The FKNK has laid claim over the wooded area at Mizieb for decades. The agreement would see the two areas formally given to the hunting lobby for the spring and autumn hunting seasons. Critics say this will effectively mean that public access to the areas will be closed off for several months.

Indeed a petition has garnered over 10,000 signatures to protect public access to the sites.

A coalition of NGOs had sent a letter to the Prime Minister arguing that such a move by the government to the hunting lobby will spell the end of outdoor activities in these areas, in a country where outdoor space is already very limited.

Indeed public space must be protected, and the public should be allowed access to these sites.

Just yesterday, the Consumer Rights Association said it is greatly concerned about media reports that the government may consider granting Mizieb and l-Ahrax public land for the private use of interest groups. “This would deprive the general public from having safe access to these open spaces for nine months of the year.”

The hunting lobby has been at the heart of controversy for many, many years, mainly due to the illegalities committed during the hunting season, and even outside of it, as well as the perceived hold they have over Malta’s political class. The government granting the land to the hunting lobby would solidify that believe. Given the illegalities that Malta has witnessed in terms of hunting, would it be wise to give them control over large areas? Would that mean that groups like CABS and BirdLife would not be able to keep an eye on hunters to catch ones who illegally shoot birds they should not in those areas? Would this mean that access to these areas would be blocked off for the rest of the public and be used solely for hunting purposes during most of the year, instead of for activities that everyone can enjoy?

FKNK, in retaliation to the petition, issued a counter statement of its own. It asked the Prime Minister to meet in order to discuss a number of reserves currently administered by local NGOs, and said that this was done in the name of the Maltese and Gozitan people in general, as well as in the name of many groups, organisations and other entities, so that they would have free access to these reserves for their recreation, arguing that they were presently fenced and closed.

Among the reserves mentioned by the hunting lobby, was Ghadira, which is very well known as being an area where protected birds land and are safe from being illegally shot. Others mentioned by the hunting lobby were Simar in Xemxija, Xrobb l-Għaġin, is-Salini, and Foresta 2000.

The move by the FKNK is easily seen as a petty retaliation.

However indeed the reserves mentioned should be open to the public for as long as possible throughout the year, but one must understand that some might see limited public access during the year in order to better protect the natural habitats. Let’s be honest, if they weren’t gated off, it is likely dumped material would be seen within weeks.

Either way, the granting of swathes of public land to be controlled by NGOs should be specifically for the enjoyment of the public at large, for the protection of wildlife, and for the preservation of natural heritage. Somehow giving control of land to the hunting lobby does not seem as though it would be in the interest of protecting wildlife.