The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is publishing for public consultation a set of 22 draft Management Plans for terrestrial Natura 2000 sites as part of €1.3 million project co financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The project was implemented through the collaboration between MEPA and Epsilon International SA – Adi Associates Environmental Consultants.

The preparation of management plans emanates from a legal requirement to prepare conservation measures required for protected sites under the Environment and Development Planning Act, and under the EU’s Habitat’s Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC).

Malta has, to date, designated a total of 34 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites covering 13% of the total land area. For management purposes some sites have been grouped together as one site resulting in a set of 30 sites requiring management provisions. For 8 of these sites, MEPA said that it was decided that a Conservation Order would be a more effective management tool, whilst a management plan was compiled for each of the 22 remaining sites.

MEPA said that the management planning exercise, involved gathering information, carrying out surveys, defining conservation objectives and identifying management measures, with intensive stakeholder involvement throughout the entire exercise.

“The main aim of the draft Management Plans is to maintain or restore species and habitats to their favourable conservation status. After assessing the present status and the pressures affecting them, the plans provide a way forward by proposing a set of measures for the next 5 years to work towards achieving this conservation target.”

MEPA explained that “each site has a set of actions which target specific problems; however there are a number of actions which are common to most of the sites. These include habitat and species management, monitoring and education and awareness.”

The proposed management plans also identify a number of plans and studies which are required to complement and enhance the management planning process that has already been undertaken. To this effect, most plans have objectives to assess different options or possibilities to address issues identified through the management planning process as requiring further studies, the Authority said.

“Natura 2000 sites are part of our Island’s natural heritage that support important national and/or international habitats, species and ecosystems and provide us with many benefits which include recreation and tourism, work, education and research, water purification and the control of climate change.”

“Moreover, to unlock their environmental and socio-economic potential it is important that these sites are properly managed with the participation of all stakeholders.”

Two public information seminars are being organised on Friday, the 7th and Monday, the 10th of August respectively. During these seminars MEPA officers will, through a presentation, be giving details and discussing the content of each draft management plan.

The public and all interested stakeholders will be invited to participate and provide their comments either during the seminar or in writing throughout the entire public consultation period.

The draft management plans can be downloaded from the website www.natura2000malta.com.mt.

Individuals and organisations are being invited to send their submissions pertaining to these draft management plans through email address natura2000@mepa.org.mt.

Submissions should reach the Authority by Wednesday, the 30th of September 2015.

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