ERA sets out management plans for land-based Natura 2000 sites

22 management plans and eight conservation orders have been prepared as part of ecological priorities set out for the management of all land-based Natura 2000 sites, including coastal cliffs, woodland, sand dunes and other islands, the Environment Resources Authority announced on Saturday. 

These policy documents address urgent and important challenges to safeguard the ecological qualities of each area. 

Environment minister Jose Herrera said that Malta's natural heritage was a gem and was important for the generation of so-called green jobs and in attracting further investment to the island. 

“This is an important occasion and an opportunity to celebrate biodiversity and our rich ecosystems, after six years of studies,” he said. “Today is another milestone that could only be achieved after the demerger that gave rise to the ERA.”

The Minister said the focus should now shift to the implementation of these management plans and conservation orders and invited governmental and non-governmental institutions, together with other stakeholders to participate in the implementation of these management plans.

Herrera praised the work of numerous eNGOs for their efforts in the sector and noted that six sites were in fact being managed entirely by such organisations. 

The entire workforce for all sites would be provided by the parks directorate.

The management plans and conservation orders for these Natura 2000 sites were prepared through a €1.3 million project ‘Management Planning and Implementation of Communication Measures for Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites in the Maltese Islands’ spearheaded by ERA and co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) under Measure 323 of the Rural Development Programme.

Architect Michelle Piccinino, director of ERA's environment unit, said the sites included private and public land and covered more than 13% of the country's entire area. 

She said the documents address site-specific objectives and measures, such as ecological restoration, regulation of certain activities, visitor management and site interpretation, sustainable rural tourism and recreation, public awareness initiatives, patrolling and monitoring.

“ERA developed these in consultation with key stakeholders including NGOs, local councils and government entities, whose involvement was essential for the success of all these actions,” she said.

Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of nature conservation areas, established to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened terrestrial and marine species and habitats for present and future generations.