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

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.

Health Minister Joe Cassar officially opened an area that has been converted into a Mediterranean woodland close to the Mater Dei Mortuary building this morning. A piece of degraded land forming part of Wied Għollieqa was restored and converted into a quiet, educational area in the grounds surrounding the hospital.

This was a joint venture between Mater Dei Hospital, GO plc and Nature Trust (Malta). The NGO planned the restoration of the site in a way that would complement the rest of the valley – a protected site managed by Nature Trust itself. GO plc sponsored the trees and shrubs, and Mater Dei staff planted and took care of them. The Parks Department helped out with the restoration of the low rubble walls. A special thanks goes to ex-Mater Dei official Denis Grech, who believed in the project and was committed to see it completed. A total of 2,000 indigenous trees and shrubs were planted over the last two years. The species in the woodland include pine, oak, carob, dwarf palm, myrtle, rosemary, pomegranate and bay laurel.

Back in 2009, during the Earth Garden festival, GO plc promised to plant a tree for every five top-up cards that people returned to be recycled. The initiative was a great success and GO committed to plant 3,000 trees in all. Apart from the 2,000 trees and shrubs planted in the Mediterranean woodland, an additional 1,000 trees will be planted in another area of the hospital.

The health minister, together with Mater Dei CEO Joseph Caruana, GO CEO David Kay and the Nature Trust executive president, planted a Sandarac Gum Tree (Gharghar) – the national tree during this morning’s opening ceremony.

Students from St Joseph School Blata l-Bajda and St Francis School Sliema  participating in the EkoSkola project also attended this morning’s event. They planted a Sandarac Gum Tree on behalf of each school and donated stickers that will be placed in different areas of Mater Dei Hospital. The stickers form part of a campaign reminding people to switch off the lights when they leave a room as a means of saving energy. EkoSkola is an International programme run in Malta by Nature Trust (Malta), and this year, particular focus is being placed on the link between a healthy environment and healthy lifestyles.

Recently the NGO received reports and photographs depicting degradation at Wied il-Luq, limits of Buskett, where fresh tractor tracks could be seen on the sensitive valley bed, which is home to restricted watercourse vegetation communities, including species such as the Blue Speedwell Veronica anagallis-aquatica, and the Compact Galingale Cyperus longus. A patch of Cyperus longus has been completely wiped out. Educational activities planned on site were rendered impossible due to damage to the path adjacent to the watercourse.

Other tracks can also be seen on sensitive and protected flora in the area, particularly on a patch inhabited by the Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima, a species of wild Iris only found in the Maltese Islands. The valley bed is also populated by Malta’s only amphibian, the Painted Frog, which is protected by law. Because of a lack of law enforcement, people are also still seen collecting tadpoles in jars.

As for the Baħrija valley, rubble and fresh tracks indicate that illegal activity has been taking place at the exact location of the habitat of the Maltese Freshwater Crab. Part of the stream alongside a rubble wall has been filled with soil and no water streams run through this protected site any longer. Furthermore, reeds found close to the area have been cut down and burnt. The reeds used to form a canopy over small pool where freshwater crabs had been observed over a number of years.

Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade

The international non-governmental organisation WWF, of which Nature Trust (Malta) is a privileged partner, had been commissioned by the EU barometer to carry out a survey across all EU member states on the implementation of the Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), which was endorsed in 2003.

The aim was to gauge the committed of EU member state governments with respect to the implementation of the action plan.

In Malta’s case, the results show that the country has performed slightly worse in the 2012 barometer when compared with 2007. There is no inter-departmental collaboration on the FLEGT action and regulation, and the EU Timber Regulation.

With regard to the FLEGT regulation, the competent authority has been established. The public procurement policy for sustainable/legal timber products addresses a number of products, but is voluntary if the targets are less than 100%.

Malta claims that good reporting procedures are in place for paper. It is not involved with voluntary partnership agreements (VPAs), and work on the EU Timber Regulation has started, but is still in the early stages.

This 2012 barometer is the 5th edition, and comes after a four-year break. It assesses progress on three measures set out in the action plan:

1. the FLEGT regulation (which facilitates the import of licensed timber from producer countries which have negotiated a voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) with the EU);
2. development cooperation focused at addressing illegal logging in producer countries (through the VPA negotiations); and
3. green public procurement.

It also assesses progress on a fourth, separate measure, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) which came about as a result of the FLEGT action plan. This will make it an offence to place illegal timber or listed wood products on the EU market.

The FLEGT regulation needs to be in place before VPA-licensed timber can enter the EU. The first licensed shipments, according to some governments, are expected in 2012. The EUTR will come into force in March 2013. Various implementing measures need to be in place in 2012 to facilitate this. The other two measures covered by the barometer are ongoing.

Further information can be found on the website http://barometer.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/government_barometer/

WWF is represented in Malta by Nature Trust (Malta), which was the international organisation’s privileged partner for this survey

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Nature Trust (Malta) has come up with a new initiative to involve all those that are interested in nature and photography. The Nature Photographer of the Year Competition will run throughout 2012 to mark the environment NGO’s 50^th anniversary. The competition is divided into four themes, one for every three months, with a view to creating a nature calendar for 2013.

Landscapes, flora, marine and fauna are the four themes that will characterise the calendar that Nature Trust will create at the end of the competition. Following the submission of photos for each theme, a jury will declare a winner and two runners-up. The winning photo of each theme will then go on to a final, for the Nature Photographer of the Year to be selected.

Photos must be submitted by those interested at the end of January, April, July and October. This can be done by sending an email to info@naturetrustmalta.org or by leaving a CD at the Wied Għollieqa Environment Centre (Car Park 1, University of Malta). Each entry will be at a fee of €0.50, which will go towards the printing costs of the calendar.

Vincent Attard, Nature Trust (Malta) President has encouraged all to participate and show the beauty of Malta’s natural environment: “This calendar will be promoted both locally and abroad, thanks to our partners, World Wildlife Fund (WWF).”

The overall winner of the competition will be declared during an award ceremony that will be held in December at the Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Centre. Prizes will be given out to the Nature Photographer of the Year and to all the photographers whose pictures were chosen for the calendar.

Further information on the competition can be found on the Nature Trust (Malta) Facebook page.

“The EkoSkola programme can be seen as the main vehicle of promoting ESD” – EkoSkola programme coordinator Paul Pace

Having analysed the National Curriculum Framework, which is currently open for consultation, environmental NGO Nature Trust (Malta) feels that the document boldly addresses a range of important issues. Among other things, the organisation commends the proposal to adopt cross-curricular themes, particularly the formal introduction of Education for Sustainable Development.

The NGO welcomes the fact that the National Curriculum Framework addresses issues such as the emphasis on the learner’s developmental process, the need for a smooth transition from one cycle to the other, the consideration of diversity as an educational opportunity and the integration of various stakeholders in the educational process.

Although the document outlines a basic curricular structure, principles and aims, it avoids prescription and encourages schools to tailor the framework to their specific realities. Nature Trust believes that this is conducive to an educational process that is more relevant (and hence motivating) to the learner.

Nature Trust is very active in environmental education as it strongly believes that education is the best tool to develop environmental responsibility. The organisation has been the representative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) – an international NGO promoting sustainable development through environmental education – since 2002.

This opportunity paved the way for students attending schools in Malta to be able to do something for the environment while having the opportunity to receive the Green Flag award for their efforts. The FEE programmes run in Malta include Eco-Schools (EkoSkola), Young Reporters for the Environment and Learning about Forests.

Nature Trust feels that the introduction of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the educational system is long overdue. In the light of cross-curricular themes being a relatively new concept in local curriculum development and syllabus design, the NGO is proposing the appointment of qualified coordinators to ensure that cross-curricular themes are properly addressed in school/college policies and learning programmes.

Because the organisation has experience in the promotion of Education for Sustainable Development through the EkoSkola programme, it would be able to provide training for ESD coordinators and continue to support teachers and schools in their efforts to promote ESD through the EkoSkola, Young Reporters for the Environment and Learning about Forests programmes.

EkoSkola programme coordinator Paul Pace said: “The EkoSkola programme can be seen as the main vehicle of promoting ESD. Over these last 10 years the EkoSkola programme distinguished itself in the seamless integration of ESD in schools. The programme has shown that certain targets of the National Curriculum Framework can be achieved.”

Aside from providing appropriate educational material, the introduction of ESD in the national curriculum involves a series of complementary actions aimed at making educational institutions sustainable. These actions can be gradually implemented based on the specific needs of the school/college. These actions include:

• the participation of students in decision-making fora
• a commitment to a change in lifestyle (particularly on an institutional level)
• having curriculum planning sessions to identify sustainable themes (at various levels: college, school, class, subject)
• having an ESD champion or organisation that monitors and supports ESD implementation
• pre/in-service teacher training on sustainable development issues and ESD.

The National Curriculum Framework also places great emphasis on hands-on and experiential learning. This is highly commendable. Experiential learning is intimately related to out-of-class activities that would include visits to sites of special educational interest and outdoor spaces.

In this regard, Nature Trust is proposing a revision of the current policy that restricts the number of out-of-class activities that teachers can plan for their class. In line with the learning experiences promoted in the National Curriculum Framework, teachers should be free to organise such activities as long as they are planned and visibly integrated in their Scheme of Work.

Istanbul, Turkey – WWF is disappointed by the insufficiency of measures to improve traceability of bluefin tuna – and the management of Mediterranean swordfish – adopted today by ICCAT, the Atlantic tuna fisheries commission, and cautions that bolder and more complete steps are urgently required.

It was hoped that this year’s meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) would see countries adopt a comprehensive plan to protect Mediterranean swordfish, as well as take steps to ensure the full traceability of bluefin tuna from ocean to plate – but only half measures have been agreed.

WWF welcomes the bringing into force of an electronic catch documentation scheme for Mediterranean bluefin – obliging fleets, tugboats, tuna fattening farms and national authorities to log all catches digitally instead of the current highly imperfect paper-based system.

But without an improvement in the provision and accuracy of data on tuna being transferred into the many fish farms that line the Mediterranean – processing the majority of tuna caught in this sea – the measure falls far short of what is required.

“ICCAT’s new bluefin tuna electronic catch documentation scheme is an important and positive leap forwards in the monitoring of the fishery and protection of the species,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean.

“But no matter how comprehensive and functional this mechanism, WWF is concerned that the continued absence of data on quantity and size of bluefin tuna caged in fattening farms creates a black hole and provides an easy facility for the laundering of illegal, unregulated and unreported catches of Mediterranean bluefin tuna.”

WWF is calling for a thorough and reliable assessment of all fish transfers to tuna fattening farms across the Mediterranean – or, in the absence of this, for the banning of tuna farming altogether in the region.

On swordfish – another popular and overexploited Mediterranean fish – measures adopted today are weak and insufficient. The new legal minimum catch size of 90 cm only highlights the amounts of juvenile fish that have been caught up to now.

But steps have been put in place to allow for a Mediterranean swordfish recovery and management plan to be established by 2013. These include the obligation for countries to provide complete data on catches and fleet size, as well as scientific information on the species.

This new collection of swordfish data should allow ICCAT’s scientific committee to carry out an improved assessment of the swordfish stock and fishery in 2013 – as well as assess overcapacity. This should in turn pave the way for a necessary fishing fleet reduction plan, similar to the one currently in force for Mediterranean bluefin tuna.

“WWF is disappointed at the lack of ambitious measures adopted by ICCAT for Mediterranean swordfish – a fishery riddled with overfishing and too much catch of juvenile fish,” said Dr Susana Sainz-Trápaga, Fisheries Advocacy Officer at WWF Mediterranean.

“But good fisheries management requires accurate and comprehensive data, as well as sound science – and the measures adopted by ICCAT members in Istanbul should help provide this. WWF will be keeping an extremely close watch now to ensure countries comply with this fundamental new obligation of swordfish data provision,” said WWF’s Dr Sainz-Trápaga.

Meanwhile, serious allegations of illegal bluefin tuna fishing by foreign fleets in Libyan waters during the country’s unrest in the 2011 fishing season attracted heated discussion at the Istanbul meeting. ICCAT members have committed to carry out research in 2012 on this issue, which WWF will closely scrutinise.

A commitment to improve science also emerged this year, with members agreeing on the need to strengthen the quality of scientific advice developed by ICCAT’s own scientists. External experts will be invited to participate in fish stock assessments, and for the first time peer reviewing of ICCAT’s science will also be introduced.

“WWF is pleased to see the introduction of these measures that will strengthen ICCAT’s science, which at the end of the day forms the foundations of its fisheries recovery and management plans,” said Dr Tudela of WWF. “We hope these improvements will already benefit the next stock assessment of bluefin tuna in the coming year, which will in turn strengthen future management measures for this endangered fish. This and accurate reporting by countries will pave the way for better fisheries management in future.”

ICCAT members meeting in Istanbul have also agreed on a fundamental ‘no data, no fish’ principle whereby unless countries provide requested data on each fishery, they cannot send boats out to catch that fish again the following year.

Protection measures were also introduced for silky sharks – recently ranked the most vulnerable of all Atlantic shark species. The silky shark is a frequent victim of accidental catch in several ICCAT fisheries, and countries are now obliged to release this species if caught in fishing nets and other gears.

The next stock assessment – and potential amendment of species recovery and management measures – for the East Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, ICCAT’s headline species, will take place at the 2012 annual meeting.