The controversy over gravel in the Ta' Qali picnic area highlights how problems arise when spaces are used for purposes they were not designed for, such as large-scale commercial events. This is in an artificially created zone, but nearby natural valleys that are meant to be rehabilitated are being worked on with heavy machinery, causing damage to Malta's natural heritage, ADPD said Saturday.

Party Secretary General Ralph Cassar noted that several conservation experts contacted him with concerns about the methods being used in valley rehabilitation. In places such as Wied il-Qlejgħa and Wied tal-Isperanza, entire areas have been stripped of vegetation, resulting in serious harm to biodiversity.

A letter was sent to the Ombudsman to question whether the regulatory authority, ERA, is properly supervising Project Green, the entity responsible for these works, to ensure that rehabilitation is being carried out according to ecological restoration standards. Unlike urban landscaping, ecological restoration requires specific techniques that Project Green appears unfamiliar with.

The party has requested an investigation into ERA's monitoring of rehabilitation works in Wied il-Qlejgħa and Wied tal-Isperanza (PA 08068/22). Work, funded 75% by the EU and carried out by Project Green, has been ongoing as of last Thursday. Evidence suggests it is not being conducted according to professional ecological practices and is instead damaging local biodiversity, ADPD noted.

While removing invasive species is essential, methodology matters. Improper techniques are harming native species. It also seems ERA's permit conditions are being breached, with little enforcement action, ADPD said.

In reply, Project Green said it places biodiversity and ecosystem preservation at the forefront of all its interventions, with every effort made to ensure that the impact on flora and fauna is kept to the absolute minimum. Works are scheduled during the dry season, when ecological activity is at its lowest and sensitive species such as the Painted Frog are least disturbed. Contrary to the claims made by ADPD in a recent statement, heavy machinery has not been deployed to bulldoze the valley bed, in Wied Speranza and Wied il-Qlejgħa, or strip vegetation indiscriminately.

Instead, its use has been strictly limited to the removal of accumulated Invasive Alien Species, and accumulated rubble and other material that, over decades, had blocked the valley's natural watercourse and rendered a nearby dam invisible and ineffective. ;Existing species such as Morus alba, Ficus carica and many more species were in decline due to the shear density of invasive alien species.

This intervention is restorative in nature, aimed at reinstating the valley's natural hydrology and ecological balance over time, following the interventions, the entity said. It's also worth noting that this project is one of many which has a long-term maintenance plan (5 years) to ensure that the restoration happens over a gradual period. Furthermore, all works at Wied Speranza are carried out in line with the approved Method Statement, which was reviewed and authorised by ERA.

These works include:

Reconstruction of traditional rubble walls, enhancing habitat niches for both flora and fauna. • Removal of dumped waste and sediment deposits that were obstructing water flow.

Preservation of historical structures within the valley;

Preservation of existing non-invasive flora;

Introduction of anti-off roading gates (to completely deter offroading activities from the site);

Restoration of safe public access, allowing visitors and nature enthusiasts to enjoy the valley responsibly.

It is also worth noting that similar interventions in other sites have successfully safeguarded species of concern, including the temporary relocation of the Discoglossus pictus (Painted Frog) and the pilot testing to remove the invasive Procambarus clarkii (Crayfish) which poses a threat to the ecosystem and the quality of water in these sites. These actions demonstrate PG's commitment to evidence-based conservation rather than the "ecological illiteracy" suggested. Ultimately, the Wied Speranza project is about restoration, not destruction. By having a long-term plan to re-establish the valley's natural functions and limiting long-standing pressures, this long-term project ensures that the site can once again thrive as a healthy ecosystem.