Dossier on Wild Fauna in the Maltese Islands: Capture, Killing and Exploitation
Although many species of wild fauna are strictly protected under national or regional legislation, illegal activities of capture and killing or unsustainable activities of exploitation, without the knowledge such activities have on local populations, may undermine efforts to protect and conserve these species. Furthermore, accidental killing is also problematic for certain species.
The Dossier on Wild Fauna in the Maltese Islands: Capture, Killing and Exploitation is a framework document, which was compiled based on available data and considering the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The Dossier addresses animal species that are considered, or are likely to be, threatened by deliberate or accidental capture and killing, as well as animal species whose exploitation should be managed, with a focus on those species included in the Habitats Directive and national legislation.
The document aims to assist Malta in building a strict protection regime, by devising strategic recovery plans for each of the species or group of species addressed. The recommendations put forward aim to address the commitment made ‘to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restore them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss’. The Dossier concludes by identifying priority conservation objectives for the group of taxa addressed and further shortlists species requiring immediate direct and indirect conservation action.
Documents
