Intent and Objectives: Malta’s National Restoration Plan

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 06 June 2025

Closing date: 04 July 2025

Title of the public consultation: Intent and Objectives: Malta’s National Restoration Plan

Ministry: Ministry for the Environment, Energy & Public Cleanliness (MEEC)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

  1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), it is duly notified that the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is preparing a National Restoration Plan (NRP) in line with the Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, hereinafter referred to as the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which entered into force on 18th August 2024.

Different restoration targets apply to different ecosystems. To this end, Malta’s NRP will guide how Malta meets targets for restoring nature and biodiversity, setting out restoration needs to address such targets at the national context. Such plan will include input from different sectors and the public. The overall aim is to restore nature across land and sea and improve ecosystems.

 

  1. Consultation

Intent and Objectives

The main intent of an NRP is to restore a broad range of ecosystems across MSs’ terrestrial and marine areas. There are targets set for selected terrestrial, and marine ecosystems, including urban and agricultural ecosystems.

The framework will build upon and complement existing legislation and policies to ensure the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiversity and resilient ecosystems through restoration.

The overall objective at EU level is to put in place restoration measures on at least 20% of Europe’s land and at least 20% of sea areas by 2030, and in all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Key Questions

ERA invites the public to submit any feedback on the intent and objectives of the concerned Plan. The following consultation questions are being presented to guide relevant feedback:

      1. Do you agree with the proposed intent and objectives of the National Restoration Plan?
      2. Should there be additional objectives not identified above keeping in mind the intent of this Plan?
      3. Which objectives and actions would you consider as priorities noting the subject matter in question?
      4. How would you assist in the preparation of such a Plan?
      5. Do you have any further feedback or comments on the intent or objectives of this Plan?

 

  1. Submission of feedback

Comments are being invited through the feedback form at publicconsultation.gov.mt or otherwise by email through [email protected] by 04 July 2025.

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the conclusion of the public consultation, unless the contributor requests that their personal data not be disclosed. In such cases, the contribution may be published anonymously.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.

The draft National Restoration Plan will be available for public consultation in due course at the following web link: https://era.org.mt/en/Pages/Active-Public-Consultations.aspx