On the occasion of World Environment Day, Nature Trust (Malta) said in a statement issued on Thursday, that they call on the national authorities to enforce all local and International legislation with regards to the environment. Malta has various laws aimed at nature protection, air and water quality, protection of protected species and various other sectors. NTM feels that despite these laws which, if enforced would have excellent results, the national authorities are failing in the enforcement sector.
The NGO said that they have been calling year after year for the ALE Unit within the Police department to be beefed up so these regulations together with the EU Birds and Habitats directives can be enforced to the full. The situation today is such that despite these laws, the state of the environment is still in neglect.
Furthermore Nature Trust (Malta) said that they call for the environment authorities to set up Marine Protected areas around the Maltese Islands. Way back in 1986, the authorities of that time had promised the setting up of fourteen MPAs. Despite this, today Malta only has one MPA in the making. Moreover NTM urges the national authorities to make more pressure on the EU and ICCAT to control the situation of over fishing in the Mediterranean region. Today the Shark population, marine turtles, the monk seal and many more are becoming endangered species. The Blue Fin tuna population is about to collapse unless more measures are taken for sustainable fishing.
NTM also encourages the authorities to start considering adaptation in the course of their programmes for Climate change. Malta like the rest of the world has to start considering adaptation measures form the impacts of the change in Climate.
Finally the NGO calls on all political parties to unit on environmental issues and make the environment a political agenda for our country. Without this our health and standard of living will suffer at the expense of the local population.