10 environmental NGOs are urging the Government to ”work against wildlife crime, not reward it.” In a joint statement the organisations warn that such measures ”undermine environmental protection, enforcement efforts and the rule of law, while sending the wrong message about wildlife crime and accountability.”

The eNGOs argued that ”environmental crimes rob the public of its shared natural heritage and undermine the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems that belong to all of society. Proposals to reduce penalties for wildlife-related offences and allow individuals previously banned from hunting or trapping to potentially regain their licences represent a dangerous step backwards for environmental protection and the rule of law in Malta.”

They questioned ”what message does this send?”

”That environmental crimes are ultimately tolerated? That persistent breaches of conservation laws can eventually be overlooked? That political interests take precedence over the protection of nature, biodiversity, and effective enforcement?”

The eNGOs highlighted that ”particularly concerning are public statements and implications made by political figures suggesting that individuals who were handed lifetime hunting bans by the courts could somehow see these sentences reversed.”

They added that ”such an approach is not only unfair to the rest of society, which expects laws and court judgements to be respected, but also represents a deeply troubling attitude towards the rule of law and democratic governance.”

The eNGOs insisted that ”Malta needs leadership that upholds the law equally for everyone, not a government that buckles under pressure from those who repeatedly choose to break it.”

They warned that ”at a time when Malta should be strengthening environmental governance and demonstrating zero tolerance towards wildlife crime, discussions are instead moving in the direction of weakening deterrents and diminishing accountability.”

They went on to say that ”this risks undermining years of work carried out by environmental authorities, NGOs, activists, scientists, and citizens committed to protecting Malta’s natural heritage.”

The eNGOs warned that ”wildlife crime is not a trivial matter. Illegal hunting and trapping directly impact biodiversity and damage ecosystems already under severe pressure. Malta has repeatedly faced international scrutiny over environmental enforcement and derogations, making it even more important to uphold strong and credible legal protections.”

They insisted that ”nature and environmental protection cannot continue to be compromised for political convenience.”

The undersigned eNGOs urged the Government to ”commit to conservation, biodiversity protection, and the proper enforcement of environmental laws, rather than treating them as negotiable.”

Signed:

BirdLife Malta

Din l-Art Helwa

Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar

Friends of the Earth

Ghawdix

Malta Rangers Unit

Moviment Graffitti

Nature Trust Malta

Ramblers Malta

Wirt Ghawdex.

Photo: BirdLife Malta/eNGOs

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