Be the first to comment!€10 million Gozo project to restore rubble walls and valleys
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More than €10 million in European funds have been invested in Gozo to restore over 25 kilometres of rubble walls and valleys, the Government has said.
Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri together with Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi has visited Triq l-Ghadira, in Kercem, one of the sites in which a project is being carried out to restore and rebuild rubble walls.
Camilleri said that the the Eco-Gozo Directorate, is in the process of restoring over 25 kilometres of rubble walls throughout Gozo.
He explained that this project started at five sites around Gozo – Triq Ghajn Abdul, Triq ta’ Hamimiet, Triq Qasam San Gorg, Triq l-Ghadira and also Triq tal-Fanal.
Various extensive works of reconstruction of rubble walls, extending to about four and a half kilometres and, in certain places, with the height of walls reaching over five metres, were carried out, the Minister said.
“This project is considered to be of national importance, in particular in view of the Government’s commitment to transform Gozo into an ecological island and for its contribution to increase the potential of the island’s rainwater also considering that through this project about 12 valleys in Gozo will be rehabilitated,” Camilleri said.
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that with this project we will continue to preserve the Gozitan landscape, while providing a better environment for farmers and the general public alike.
He explained that rubble walls are an important feature in the Gozitan rural landscape.
Zrinzo Azzopardi held that “together with the positive visual impact they leave, they play an important role for the preservation of the environment as they prevent soil loss when it rains while leading to better water management.”
“These works, together with the rehabilitation of various valleys, will have a positive impact on the environment as well as on the cultural heritage,” said the Parliamentary Secretary.
The project is being funded through measure 4.4 by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2014-2020, which is helping Malta meet its agricultural and environmental goals through the rehabilitation and preservation of biodiversity.
