ADPD-The Green Party said Wednesday it welcomed the public discussion around the future of the White Rocks site and its potential transformation into a public park. At nearly the same size as the Buskett woodland, this area represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Malta to invest in large-scale ecological restoration rather than repeat the mistakes of the past. It is pertinent to point out that our party has long opposed land speculation and the commercialisation of the site. White Rocks is also adjacent to the Pembroke Natura 2000 site.
This should mean proper and professional ecological restoration of White Rocks, the party said Wednesday.
Chairperson Sandra Gauci and official and spokesperson Mark Zerafa said: However, we are deeply concerned by the lack of clarity on what the government aims to achieve from this project. It is worrying that some stakeholders appear to favour a formal, highly designed space dominated by hard landscaping and cementification. Such an approach would undermine the very purpose of creating a park at White Rocks and would squander the site's enormous potential to restore biodiversity, strengthen ecological resilience, and provide genuine nature-based benefits to present and future generations.
A park of this scale must not be reduced to paved paths, ornamental planting, and infrastructure-heavy design. What Malta urgently needs is proper ecological restoration. It is indeed shameful that large scale ecological projects are few and far between, most of them thanks to the efforts of NGOs and volunteers.
"We call for a comprehensive restoration plan led by ecological restoration experts, including ecologists, environmental scientists, and specialists with proven experience in ecological restoration. We urge authorities to immediately invest in local plant nurseries, including those of NGOs, to grow trees, shrubs, and flora sourced from local genetic stock, ensuring resilience, adaptability, and the preservation of Malta's unique biodiversity. Active involvement of existing organisations and initiatives already working in flora propagation, habitat restoration, and environmental conservation, whose expertise should be central to this project. It is also an opportunity to develop jobs with a positive impact on the country's environment," the party said.
ADPD-The Green Party strongly warned against the large-scale importation of flora. While there is scope for importation of certain types of flora for their re-introduction into the local environment, wholesale importation without any planning undermines local ecosystems and ignores the importance of genetic suitability to Malta's climate and conditions. Ecological restoration is not a quick fix; it requires time, planning, and patience. For this reason, investment must begin immediately, even if visible results will take years to mature.
White Rocks should become a living ecosystem, not a manicured showcase. If done right, it can stand alongside Buskett as a vital green lung for Malta, a refuge for biodiversity, and a powerful symbol of a national shift towards environmental responsibility.