The government will be investing around €58,000 in improvement works being done by BirdLife Malta in two Natura 2000 sites, one being the Ghadira Nature Reserve and the Simar Reserve on the limits of St Paul’s Bay.
The investment was announced by Environment, Climate Change and Planning Minister Aaron Farrugia on Monday morning at the Ghadira Nature Reserve, during a press conference which was attended by representatives from BirdLife Malta, ERA and Ambjent Malta.
The two sites are considered and known as sanctuaries for birds, and have high ecological importance. Both are classified as Special Areas of Conservation of International Importance and Special Protection Areas. Farrugia said that the investment will aid the additional work being done to further encourage the growth and survival of protected species.
“The aim of these works being carried out at these sites is to protect the important value that the environment around us offers. The purpose of these sites is to maintain the sites so that they can be enjoyed sustainably to all, whilst striking a balance between the use of Natura 2000 site and their natural conservation,” said Farrugia.
He said that he wants to emphasise not only the importance of protecting the environment and protected species, but also to ensure that human activity in such sites does not leave a negative impact on the quality of the biodiversity.
The new works will include the establishment of a research laboratory in Simar, the use of new products and machinery for planting trees, the installation of security cameras on site and the construction of new sanitary facilities at the Ghadira site.
“In Malta, more than 14% of the land is allocated to the 34 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites, which account for about 44 square km, and the Natura 2000 maritime sites cover 35.5% of the Maltese waters,” said Farrugia.
We will continue protecting our natural heritage - Farrugia
Farrugia said that it is important that the natural heritage that the environment offers must be protected like any other heritage. “The public is invited to visit and enjoy these beautiful environment sites, but we all must do so without any environmental damage.”
He said that the work BirdLife Malta and other NGOs do must be promoted much more, and that they are supported to continue protecting the environment.
Farrugia said that this year’s Budget will leave a positive impact on the environment, and that this is done because that is what the nation wants. “We are looking at an economy post covid-19, and that we should also focus on our environment, which is at the forefront of our work.”
BirdLife Malta and other environment NGOs not to be connected to hunting and trapping associations
BirdLife Malta’s CEO Mark Sultana highlighted the importance of such agreements and appealed to the Minister to continue working side by side to focus on the culture of respecting Malta’s natural heritage. “BirdLife Malta will continue working hard to protect the natural environment of our island and to ensure that it is safely enjoyed by everyone. We will continue criticising anyone that does not do this, even if it is the government, and we will continue working hard to ensure the protection of our natural heritage.”
Sultana said that the four reserves which BirdLife Malta runs are all open to the public, and any funding received is dedicated to these reserves to ensure that the general public enjoy these reserves. He said that in the reserves, no member of BirdLife Malta or any individual can kill any animal or bird, or remove any flowers or flora.
He also mentioned that after the agreement which the government signed with FKNK, providing hunters large pieces of land in Mizieb and L-Ahrax, he was not sure whether this activity will take place. “Yet our thoughts changed and we believed that this would be a good occasion to recap all the work we do. All the work that BirdLife Malta and many other NGOs’ do for the community, and that such organisations can never be placed in the same hem with associations as those of hunting and trapping, whose main interest remains in killing birds.”
Photos: Giuseppe Attard