Nature Trust (Malta) said it is very concerned on the recent fire incident happening at the Salina where reed beds were totally destroyed. Salina is of high ecological importance and deserves the highest protection status. Apart from a variety of avifauna and other animals and plants, one of the rarest insects is also found there – the Salt marsh grasshopper. This residential species of grasshopper occurring in Malta is known in Maltese as , Gurat tas-Salini, Heteracris adspersa. This insect only occurs at Salina especially, due to its salty habitat preference from other grasshoppers. It is very rare as just a few sighted records have been noted locally

The NGO calls on the authorities to take immediate short term action in such sites so as important fauna and flora can be protected. The longer the authorities take in research and drafting of management plans to be done the higher the risk to our local natural heritage. NTM said that “it feels we have already lost enough while reports are still being drawn up. Higher commitment to nature protection is expected.”

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