Public Consultation: Conservation Objectives and Measures for Malta’s Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites – Set 1

CONSULTATION BRIEF

Start date: 25 October 2024

Closing date: 06 December 2024

Title of the public consultation: Public Consultation: Conservation Objectives and Measures for Malta’s Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites – Set 1

Ministry: Ministry for Environment, Energy and Regeneration of the Grand Harbour (MEER)

Entity: Environment and Resources Authority (ERA)

 

  1. Background

In terms of Article 51 of the Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), the public is duly notified that ERA has prepared the first set of site-specific 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) and the Conservation​ of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 549.42).

As per regulation 14(6) of S.L. 549.44, the competent authority shall review the management plans of each SAC or SPA, and assess the state of the protected site and the progress made in the implementation of the measures. The revised conservation objectives and measures 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.

This revision process is being carried out in a staggered approach to facilitate consultation and adoption. Additional sites or extensions to existing sites which have been designated since the previous management plans will also be covered by this same process.

The first set of 13 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites are:

      • L-Inħawi ta’ Pembroke
      • Il-Maqluba
      • Is-Simar
      • Is-Salini
      • L-Għadira s-Safra u l-Iskoll tal-Għallis
      • L-Inħawi tar-Ramla tat-Torri u tal-Irdum tal-Madonna
      • Għar Dalam
      • Iċ-Ċittadella
      • Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk
      • L-Inħawi ta’ l-Għadira
      • Filfla u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha
      • Il-Gżejjer ta’ San Pawl (Selmunett)
      • Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar ta’ Marsaskala

Malta has designated 37 terrestrial sites including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) forming part of the European Natura 2000 Network aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of species and habitats listed under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC.

More information on these sites may be found on the following webpages:

Natura 2000 sites need to be subject to management processes aimed at improving or maximising the contribution of the sites to the maintenance or achievement of Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) of the habitats and species listed in the EU Habitats Directive and the protection of seabirds in accordance with the EU Birds Directive. For this purpose, ‘conservation objectives’ are set to guide management processes and enable measurement of progress and ‘conservation measures’ are elaborated to achieve the set objectives through their implementation. Criteria and indicators have been therefore included for assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of such a management approach. Whenever required, operational objectives are elaborated to address knowledge gaps or provide more robust information.

 

  1. Consultation

The public is invited to submit any feedback or comments on the first set of draft conservation objectives and measures addressing 13 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites.

 

  1. Documents

Conservation Measures and Objectives for Malta’s Terrestrial Natura 2000 Sites – Set 1

Report on comments submitted during Intent and Objectives stage

 

  1. Submission of feedback

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

In addition, a hybrid stakeholder and public consultation session will be organised by ERA on Tuesday 12 November 2024 from 17:00 to 19:00 at ERA’s offices (Hexagon House, Spencer Hill, Marsa, MRS 1441), wherein the draft Conservation Measures and Objectives will be presented. Attendance can be either online or in person. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session wherein stakeholders and members of the public may provide feedback. Interested stakeholder and members of the public are invited to register for this meeting from this link.

 

  1. Further notes

Please be informed that comments submitted, together with the identity of the contributor, may be published online at the end of the public consultation, unless the contributor objects to the publication of his/her personal data. In this case, the contribution may be published in anonymous form.

All comments submitted shall be duly considered.