More than 260 academics have signed a letter saying that reclaiming Manoel Island should be a historic opportunity to show that the country is taking action towards environmental sustainability.
On Sunday, MIDI said it was committed to continue to act in good faith to find a solution in order to implement Government's stated objective for Manoel Island to revert to Government.
In a statement on Monday, the academics said Malta stands at a critical crossroads where environmental sustainability, public health, and long-term national well-being must be prioritised, the letter says. As academics and professionals, we urge the government of Malta to rethink Manoel Island as a public natural space.
This is an opportunity; not just as a legal obligation, but as a chance to reflect the country's urgent needs and current public priorities within nature-based solutions.
The Mediterranean basin, where Malta is centrally positioned, is recognised as a climate change and biodiversity hotspot. In the face of intensifying climate and ecological crises, the preservation of remaining green spaces is not optional; it is crucial. Manoel Island, uniquely located within one of Malta's most urbanised zones (Sliema and Gżira), represents a rare and irreplaceable socio-ecological asset.
Transforming Manoel Island into a public nature reserve and cultural heritage park offers co-benefits that align with planetary health principles which supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and community well-being. Urban green spaces are proven to:
Support mental and physical health, reducing rates of obesity, stress, and depression, Improve air quality, urban cooling, and biodiversity preservation, Provide spaces for physical activity, recreation, and social cohesion.
As part of this vision, efforts should prioritise the planting and conservation of native (indigenous and endemic) trees, bushes, and plants which are best adapted to Malta's climate, support local biodiversity, and require fewer resources to thrive. This would not only enhance the ecological importance of Manoel Island but also reinforce its identity as a truly Maltese natural space.
This initiative also offers opportunities for cultural ecological conservation, honouring Manoel Island's historical past, alongside afforestation and environmental stewardship. When the development agreement with MIDI was signed more than two decades ago, Malta's socio-economic realities were different. While economic growth has improved quality of life in several areas, it has often come at the expense of our natural and architectural heritage.
Today, as Malta enters a new phase of environmental responsibility, supported by initiatives such as the €700 million investment in the environment and the work of Project Green in creating pocket gardens and revitalised urban spaces, Manoel Island presents a unique opportunity to go further. While these efforts are commendable and much needed within our towns and communities, Malta also urgently requires larger, naturally preserved landscapes that are enhanced for ecological and public benefit but remain largely free from intensive human intervention.
Manoel Island can become such a national park, which could be a living example of environmental restoration and public health promotion. The concern that reclaiming Manoel Island would "cost taxpayers millions" must be reframed as a wise, future-oriented public investment. Those funds, if spent to preserve and regenerate Manoel Island, would yield long-term returns in the form of improved public health, tourism rooted in cultural and ecological assets, with enhanced urban resilience. Unlike luxury apartment developments accessible to a privileged few, a protected Manoel Island offers widespread, equitable benefits across generations. Investing in nature, mental health, and community space should be a national priority over private developments and therefore strikes as sound governance.
We, the undersigned academics and professionals, recommend that the Government of Malta Reassesses the Manoel Island concession considering unfulfilled contractual obligations by MIDI; Reclaims the site for public ownership and use, under the stewardship of a publicly accountable environmental and cultural agency; Designates Manoel Island as a protected socio-ecological zone, integrating ecological restoration, historical preservation, and community health outcomes. This is a call to redefine development in a way that safeguards the planetary health concept and Malta's people.