Nature Trust Malta - News
Thu, May 24, 2012
Press Release
Two loggerhead turtles released at Ġnejna Bay
Two Loggerhead turtles, Johnny and Fajju, were returned to the sea today, during a turtle release event held at Ġnejna Bay. The turtles spent a number of months at the Turtle Rehabilitation Unit at Forti San Luċjan in Marsaxlokk, where they were cared for by aquaculture officer Charles Sammut and Nature Trust (Malta) volunteers, who help with cleaning, medication and feeding of the turtles undergoing rehabilitation. They were under the medical observation of veterinary surgeon Anthony Gruppetta of St Simon’s Veterinary Practice in Mosta.
The turtles were released on the occasion of World Turtle Day (23 May) in the presence of Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, Environment Minister Mario de Marco, 120 students who participated in the Young Reporters/EkoSkola programme, and Nature Trust volunteers, including the NGO’s Marine Rescue Team, which is made up of a dedicated team of volunteers who have MEPA permits to handle protected animals and who are on call on a 24/7 basis.
Following Johnny and Fajju’s release yesterday, short talks were given on turtles and their rehabilitation, marine wildlife rescue and jellyfish watching.
Air Malta has been supporting Nature Trust’s turtle rehabilitation centre project – which will involve an investment of €1.5 million – by means of the ‘Adopt a Turtle’ campaign. The centre will be the first of its kind and it will receive injured turtles, which currently undergo rehabilitation at San Luċjan, as well as other injured animals such as hedgehogs. By means of the ‘Adopt a Turtle’ campaign (donations can be made via the Air Malta website), Nature Trust has already managed to collect more than €3,000.
When turtles are picked up by fishermen, boat owners or divers, volunteers from the Wildlife Marine Rescue Team normally take the turtles to Forti San Luċjan, where aquaculture officer Charles Sammut follows their progress, keeping records of their size, weight, growth, the amount of food they eat, and any vitamins and medicines they are given. They are only released back to the sea when it is evident that they are healthy and growing steadily.
Nature Trust has been working in the field of marine rescue for more than 10 years; all its volunteers are trained by UK experts as marine, mammal and reptile medics as a means of providing first aid to the injured or sick animals as soon as they are rescued. This helps reduce the trauma for the animals and increases the chances of survival.
Despite being great travellers, marine turtles are under threat from fishing fleets. They get entangled in fishing lines, swallow hooks and plastic bags, and encounter other difficulties that could have fatal consequences unless they are taken to the rehabilitation centre for treatment.
The reptiles sometimes get caught
on hooks while eating fishing bait; the hooks and lines cause infections that may lead to a cruel death, so fishermen are advised to take injured turtles to San Luċjan for treatment as soon as possible. In the case of long fishing trips, fishermen are advised to cut the line close to turtles’ mouths, avoiding the nylon getting into their digestive system, thus giving the turtles a higher chance of survival.
Turtles have been around for more than 200 million years, but they are endangered due to human impacts.
The most commonly sighted turtles around the Maltese Islands are Loggerhead turtles, which can live up to 80 to 100 years. The last recorded turtle nesting in Malta was in 1960, but the fate of both the eggs and the female turtle was rather unfortunate, as the adult was killed and the eggs were stolen.
Nature Trust (Malta) is committed to raising awareness on these marine reptiles. Beach users in particular, are urged not to leave plastic bags lying around on beaches as turtles may end up swallowing them if they end up in the sea.
Mon, May 21, 2012
Press Release
Vandals target Xrobb L-Ghagin Park
Vandals broke into Xrobb L-Ghagin Park this weekend and uprooted and stole over 170 newly planted trees including those planted by VIPs just one month ago as part of the NGOs 50th anniversary celebrations. Trees stolen include those of the President of Malta, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Furthermore the vandals broke into a store-room in the same park and stole various equipment including tools, wheel burrows and pipes used for the maintenance of the trees.
Nature Trust (Malta) condemns such cowardly acts. Such incidents go against society since this park is for the general public to enjoy and for future generations to inherit. The NGO will now be planting again all trees taken. This will be carried out after the hot summer months to ensure a higher survival rate.
Xrobb L-Ghagin Park is opened everyday from 8am till noon on weekdays and from 8 am till 5 pm on weekends and public holidays. Since the first year of opening in 8 April 2011, over 5000 students have visited the park to learn about the environment and sustainable development. Furthermore over 3000 visitors have been enjoying the park in weekends. NTM was considering on extending the open hours now that the conservation project was near completion but unfortunate it is evident that there are still people out to vandalise anything. Only two months ago another NTM managed site – The Wied Ghollieqa Nature Reserve witnessed a vandal attack with the culprits spraying graffiti on restored rubble walls and overturning a few in the process.
Nature Trust appeals to anyone having information on the recent vandal attack to contact the police so as the culprits can be brought to justice. The NGO is now planning to install more CCTV at Xrobb L-Ghagin Park. A police report has also been filed
Wed, Apr 18, 2012
Nature Trust (Malta) is 50 years old
PRESS RELEASE
Nature Trust (Malta) is 50 years old
President George Abela attended an event marking the beginning of Nature Trust (Malta)’s 50th anniversary celebrations at Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre in Delimara this morning.
The President was one of 50 personalities, ranging from politicians and business people to singers and actors, who planted a tree each to mark the environment NGO’s 50th birthday.
Nature Trust founding member Guido Lanfranco spoke about the way things have changed since the NGO was set up 50 years ago. He explained that back then, people labelled him as a strange person, a lunatic even, when he started studying plants and insects.
Nature Trust executive president Vince Attard spoke about the way the NGO has evolved over the years, current projects, and the problems it has
had to face, not least those related to vandalism. While expressing appreciation for the support of a number of sponsors, Mr Attard observed that the financial crisis naturally had a negative effect on the amount of financial assistance that companies could offer.
President George Abela, on his part, praised the work carried out by Nature Trust’s volunteers. Among other things, he mentioned the work in the field of education. He said a group of children had taught him about the national tree, the Sandarac Gum Tree (l-Għargħar), and had even shown him one in the grounds of San Anton Palace. This type of education is important from a socio-economic point of view, not only in terms of environmental awareness, noted Dr Abela.
Nature Trust is a privileged partner of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It is one if the oldest and largest environment NGOs dealing with the natural environment of the Maltese Islands. When it was set up on 12 December 1962, the NGO was called the Natural History Society of Malta.
The name Nature Trust (Malta) came about in January 1999 when a merger of four NGOs took place – the Society for the Study and Conservation
of Nature (formerly known as Natural History Society of Malta) founded 1962, Arbor founded 1983, Verde founded 1997 and Marine Life Care Group (MLCG).
Over the years it has worked and lobbied hard to get legal protection for various plants and animals in the Maltese Islands, helping to save some of the local endemic species from extinction, Today the NGO is very active in environmental education through various means, as it strongly believes that education is the best tool to create awareness on nature conservation.
The organisation has also been carrying out several environmental projects such as afforestation, habitat conservation and the creation of marine protected areas.
Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre, where today’s event was held, covers more than 155,000 square metres on a jutting peninsula with scenic views in the Delimara area.
The purpose of the project is to educate the public and carry out research on sustainable development solutions with a view to promoting wastewater management and the use of renewable energy, and also to safeguard biodiversity.
Xrobb l-Għaġin will be open to the public between 9am and 5pm this coming Saturday and Sunday, and Nature Trust volunteers will be available to take visitors on guided tours on the hour. The NGO is doing its best to try extending the centre’s opening hours, and next week will be open between 9am and 5pm. For further information please email info@naturetrustmalta.org.
Photo captions
DOI_3830: Left to right – Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, President George Abela, Archbishop Paul Cremona, Nature Trust executive president Vince Attard and others on a short walk around Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park
DOI_3783: Left to right – Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Nature Trust founding member Guido Lanfranco (addressing those present), President George Abela, Nature Trust youths officer Zach Engerer and Nature Trust executive president Vince Attard
DOI_3792: Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi looks on as Nature Trust founding member Guido Lanfranco addresses those who attended the event at Xrobb l-Għaġin
Tue, Mar 27, 2012
Press Release
Clean-up activity in Pembroke
Two large skips were filled with separated waste in less than two hours during a clean-up of part of the Pembroke Natura 2000 site on Friday 16 March. The activity was organised by Nature Trust (Malta) in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Armed Forces of Malta, and the Pembroke local council. The crew of the USS Mount Whitney, as well as AFM personnel participated in the clean-up.
The waste collected included metal tanks, furniture, barbeque waste, rubble waste, papers, wood, and metal bars among other items. While thanking those who participated in the activity for their time and dedication, Nature Trust executive president Vincent Attard said: “It was commendable to see the US Navy and the AFM working together towards nature conservation on our Islands. Mr Attard added that it is a shame that some Maltese still consider the countryside as the dump yard for their waste, when today our country has a sufficient bulky waste disposal system and civic amenity sites. Furthermore our country depends on tourism and such irresponsible dumping is not helping Malta’s economy and jobs.”
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Arnold H. Campbell, who visited the clean-up site to offer his encouragement to the volunteers, said, “I am proud to see the best of U.S. Navy traditions being put into practice here in Malta. In every country they visit, U.S. Navy crewmembers consistently volunteer to reciprocate the warm hospitality they receive by participating in various community projects. The apparent camaraderie between the Maltese soldiers and the American sailors is synonymous with the excellent bilateral relationship our two countries enjoy.”
Pembroke is an important site from an ecological point of view. It is home to various orchids and endemic plants, as well as a variety of fauna such as chameleons, hedgehogs, black whip snakes and others.
From a historical point of view, there is the Madliena Tower, which Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna obtained from the government for restoration and management purposes in 2009. The tower was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Grandmaster De Redin as part of the construction of a chain of 13 other towers along the coast, whose purpose was to deter smuggling and warn about the presence of corsairs and pirates. In 1771, a rock-hewn fougasse was added as additional protection to the nearby inlet.
During the early part of the British period, the tower was used as an anti-smuggling post until it was ceded to the military, which used it as a flag post to mark the event of live firing at the nearby musketry and artillery ranges. During World War II the tower was also used as a beach post and a beach-gun position was also added.
