1. Background
In terms of Article 51 of the
Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), the public is duly notified that the Environment
and Resources Authority (ERA) has initiated the revision process for the “Conservation Objectives and Measures for
Malta’s Terrestrial Natura 2000 sites”, in line with the Flora, Fauna and
Natural Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44). The revised conservation
objectives and measures for Malta’s terrestrial Natura 2000 sites build upon
Malta’s first ‘‘Management Plans and Conservation Orders for Terrestrial Natura
2000 Sites in Malta & Gozo’’ which were adopted in 2016, in order to continue
the Government’s long-term efforts on Natura 2000 site management and
biodiversity conservation. The exercise shall also take into consideration any
additional sites or extension/s to existing sites which have been designated
since then.
The Flora, Fauna and Natural
Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44) require the setting up of
appropriate conservation measures for protected sites, addressing the habitats
and species for which the sites were designated. Such conservation measures are
aimed to follow good governance principles with a long-term view and shall
include criteria and indicators for assessing and monitoring the effectiveness
of such a management approach. As per regulation 14(6) of the Flora, Fauna and
Natural Habitats Protection Regulations (S.L. 549.44), the competent authority
shall review the management plans of each SAC or SPA, and regularly assess the
state of the protected site and the progress made in the implementation of the
management plan and these regulations.
The network of terrestrial Natura 2000 sites in Malta
was created following the provisions of the EU Nature Directives; the Council
Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora (Habitats Directive) and the Council Directive 2009/147/EC on the
conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive). Such site designations are based
on the criteria established through Schedule IV of S.L. 549.44 and the
scientific data collected on habitats and species listed in Schedules I and II
of the same Regulations and Schedule I of S.L. 549.42. More information
regarding these sites is included in the respective Standard Data Forms for
each site available from here.
2. Consultation Questions
The main objectives of the proposed revision process for the “Conservation Objectives and Measures for Malta’s Terrestrial Natura 2000 sites” are to:
The public is invited to submit any feedback or comments on the intent and objectives regarding the conservation objectives and measures for Malta’s terrestrial Natura 2000 Network, in line with the following consultation questions:
- Do you agree with the proposed intent and objectives presented here?
- What do you envision for Malta’s terrestrial Natura 2000 Network to 2030?
- What aspects do you retain to be crucial to safeguard Malta’s terrestrial Natura 2000 Network to 2030?
Submissions were received by 30 August 2021.
We thank you for your input.