Be the first to comment!Habitat destroyed at trapping sites in the Important Bird Area near to Dwerja
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BirdLife Malta today revealed that its field workers recorded last weekend that large tracts of land in one of the Important Bird Area at the north of Dwejra in Gozo were burnt to clear vegetation for the trapping sites in the ecologically sensitive area.
Trappers clear vegetation by using different methods including burning and spreading toxic herbicides to open space for their nets. This practice seriously damages the countryside as wild herbs, plants and flowers which are habitat to many species of insects and birds are destroyed.
Furthermore, the area where the landscape is charred black as a result of burning the vegetation for the trapping sites is one of the seven Important Bird Areas (IBA) which is not given the full Special Protection Area (SPA) status by the Maltese government. The area is given only 30% protection and is therefore subject to an on going infringement procedure opened by the Commission against Malta (1).
“Despite the fact that there are only 11 Internationally Important Bird Areas in the Maltese islands, MEPA has so far given only four of these 11 IBAs the full protection they deserve as required by the EU Birds Directive. In most cases MEPA has designated almost only the actual cliff faces of the IBAs leaving the rest of the area with no protection. This is like water proofing the walls of your home but not the roof.” said Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta’s Campaigns Coordinator.
The trapping sites with burnt land in the Important Bird Area are almost adjacent to the designated Special protection Area which only covers the cliff side from Dwejra Bay to the San Dimitri point.
“The government should safe guard all the internationally important bird areas in the Maltese islands so that these areas do not degrade any further like the IBA in the north of Dwejra. We trust that Dr. Gonzi will fulfill his promises to protect our wild life and give all the IBAs in Malta the full protection they need.” concluded Saliba.
Note:
1) On 27th June 2007, the European Commission opened up an infringement procedure against Malta for not designating sufficient Special Protected Areas (SPA) for migratory and vulnerable wild bird species.
