|
Julian Manduca
Malta’s nature protected sites proposed by the government to the EU this summer do not comply with Malta’s obligations in relation to the Birds and Habitats Directives, the EU Commission told MaltaToday, but a ministry spokesperson said the information is still being compiled.
Lone Mikkelsen, a spokesperson for the EU’s environment directorite told MaltaToday that “on 13 July, the Commission received the submission of designated sites from the Maltese authorities. However, the information in it is not complying with Malta's obligations in relation to the Birds and Habitats Directives.
“Some information is missing and there was only one list of Natura 2000 sites when two separate lists of i) proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs) under the habitats Directive and of ii) Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the Birds Directive have to be transmitted to the Commission.”
The environment ministry spokesperson told MaltaToday that Malta’s submissions “are at a very advanced stage and will soon be finalised.”
The sites chosen to be protected in Malta, described as ‘Special areas of Conservation: Candidates of International Importance’ are: the Buskett Girgenti area; il-Ballut, limits of Marsaxlokk; il-Balluta tal-Wardija, limits of St Paul’s Bay; il-Maghluq tal-Bahar, limits of Marsaskala; il-Maqluba, limits of Qrendi; is-Salini; is-Simar; an area of Ghadira; l-Ghadira s-Safra; l-Imgiebah/Tal-Mignuna area; Ix-Xaghra tal-Kortin; an area in Pembroke; Ramla tat-Torri/Rdum tal-Madonna area; Ta’ Baldu/Wied Hazrun; eight coastal cliff areas and Wied il-Mizieb.
In Gozo, the sites are: the Citadella; the Dwejra-Qawra area including Hagret il-General; Ghajn Barrani area; Ir-Ramla area; Xlendi, Wied tal-Kantra area, are the areas chosen.
Other areas are Filfla, Comino, Cominotto, il-Hagriet ta’ bejn Kmiemen u l-Iskoll ta’ Taht il-Mazz, and the islands of St Paul and Selmunett.
Other areas have been declared ‘Special areas of conservation: sites of national importance’. These include, in Malta, the Ta’ Bloq area and Wied Qirda, Wied Ghollieqa, limits of San Gwann and the Wied Harq Hammiem area. In Gozo the areas are the In-Nuffara area and that at L-Ghadira ta’Sarraflu limits of Kercem. Also listed are il-Gebla tac-Cawla and il-Gebla tal-Halfa.
Malta was meant to list the sites as SPAs (Special Protected Areas arising out of the Birds Directive), and SACs (Special Areas of Conservation declared under the Habitat Directive), but in most cases the Maltese sites are both.
When MaltaToday asked why the separate lists were not submitted, the ministry said: “To save on precious resources of time and money, a sample site, which is both an SPA and an SAC, has been compiled and forwarded to Brussels for their comments. Following minor comments and suggestions, the available data on the Natura 2000 sites proposed is now being transferred and compiled according to suggestions received.”
Controversially the Ta’ Cenc site in Gozo has been left out. The area has always been classified as a site of ecological importance but has also been mentioned as a possible site for a golf course.
Controversy has raged over the site for years, ever since it was proposed that a tourist complex be built on site.
julian@newsworksltd.com
|
