The government has signed a number of new guardianship deeds with eNGOs, for the protection and use of sites that are important from both an environmental and a historical point of view.

The sites in question and the NGOs that will be responsible for them are: 

Friends of the Earth Malta: A 14,400 square meter plot of land in Comino, known as Fuq il-Bir tat-Tiġieġ, as well as the building known as l-Forn l-Antik;

Din l-Art Ħelwa: An area of ​​670 square meters of land in the National Park in Ta Qali as well as the building known as the Australian Bangalow which will be relocated from L-Għammieri to Ta' Qali;

Fondazzjoni Rurali Manikata: the site known as Razzett tal-Qasam covering 4,022 square meters, as well as several other small buildings which form part of the same site.

Any environmental organisation benefiting from these sites must not only ensure that the buildings are restored and conserved properly and in a way that respects the surrounding environment, but also that the areas of land that will be passed on be managed in a way that: Respects the ecological value of each site; · Makes an effort to improve the biodiversity of the area; Promotes environmental education in the area, including on the native species of each site;  Promotes the areas for the use and enjoyment of the public in a sustainable way.

Therefore, in order to ensure that these measures are carried out properly and in a timely manner in sync with the surrounding environment, an action plan will be drawn up for each agreement, in order to ultimately ensure the sustainable management of the Maltese environmental and cultural heritage.

Each action plan will provide a vision incorporating the restoration, use, and final product expected at each site by 2035.

"This collaboration is crucial for the well-being of the local environment. NGOs are the environmental driver and a crucial element in carrying out Government's environmental measures. The environment can only be managed sustainably if valuable work and collaborations continue to take place with different sectors of society to enable a collective effort to be made. In fact, the effort to improve the quality of the local environment also depends on the public, as such sites and structures should be enjoyed in a sustainable way-for the benefit of all," Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia said.