PR NTM Concerned on Valley Degradation

Nature Trust (Malta) is concerned about recent reports from its members and the public about the degradation of Buskett and Baħrija’s important valley systems – both of which are highly protected sites on a national and international level.

 

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.

 

Waste can endanger wildlife

Article published on 20 February 2012 by Jeffrey Sciberras NTM Conservation Officer on Malta Independent

Waste that is not disposed of in a proper manner can endanger wildlife, which has paid a heavy price ever since man started living on the islands. Nature Trust (Malta)’s flora conservation officer

Although history has taught us how we should treat our land, as a nation we still have not yet fully learnt to respect what is left of our natural environment.

Nature Trust (Malta) is greatly concerned that in spite of the great environmental awareness Malta has achieved, we still lack standards when it comes to the cleanliness of our countryside.

Such a statement may be viewed as too blunt, but this is all too true to those who enjoy visiting the countryside, especially in summer, when most of winter’s lush vegetation dries up and reveals the waste it once covered. Why is it that a lot of waste is still visible outdoors? There are hardly any bins available in the countryside, that is true, but this is no excuse for people to throw their garbage there and treat our natural habitats as a dumping site.

It’s not just a question of aesthetics – that unmanaged waste is an eyesore and gives the impression that our countryside is completely neglected – but it’s also an issue from an ecological point of view. Waste is hazardous in many ways, both at sea and on land.

Waste on land comes in many forms, and most of it can be recycled these days. It is worth noting that waste separation has become normal practice in most schools, especially in schools that have been participating in the Nature Trust-run EkoSkola programme since it was first introduced in 2003.

This is indicative of education beyond the initial awareness levels usually associated with an increase in knowledge about a particular issue. Changes in habits are indicative of education at the levels of attitudes and values.

The most common types of waste are plastic bottles, glass alcohol bottles and metal beer cans. These three types of waste contribute to the trapping, drowning (in winter) and suffocation (in summer) of a significant number of species of invertebrates that normally live in shady areas, under rocks and vegetation, particularly snails, slugs, spiders, woodlice and so on, which easily mistake waste as natural cover.

Moreover, even small vertebrates, like shrews, lizards and skinks often end up victims of such waste due to their curious nature while searching for an opportunistic food source. The smell of opened cans and bottles is the main culprit of their demise.

Indirectly, feral cats and rats contribute to an increase in the amount of outdoor waste for the same reason in their search for food. With their claws and teeth, these animals rip off unguarded and uncollected garbage bags to nibble on the discarded remains of food, with the inedible remains of the rest of the garbage strewn all over the place.

Plastic bottles and appliances that contain a chemical source, like car batteries, are also hazardous because of their chemicals, which will leach into the soil due to rain, erosion and decay. The soil will be poisoned, its beneficial bacteria dies, and it will no longer function as a natural recycling engine.

Aquifers are also polluted in such a manner. Moreover, crops will not grow properly, leading to health problems for us as well. A strange fact is that several wild species of plants are exhibiting fasciated* forms of growth, which can damage their reproductive cycles.

Bulky waste material, particularly larger pieces which cannot be covered by winter vegetation, take over the space where plant life once thrived and immediately becomes transformed into an ecological system of its own, where many small invertebrates take cover.

If, after some time, this waste material is removed, the ecology of the area is disturbed all over again. Much of the waste that is left uncollected for ages is no longer viable to recycle due to its deteriorated state. But a lot of recent waste is still out there waiting to be collected.

Waste is also detrimental to the sea. Plastic bottles erode quicker in the sea. Glass bottles become artificial homes for small fish, crustaceans, marine gastropods (sea slugs and snails) and cephalopods (octopi, cuttlefish etc). It is a well-known fact that plastic bags resemble jellyfish and become a deadly prey to turtles.

The sea comes with a vengeance to show how much waste has been discarded. During windy storms, large numbers of plastic bottles pile up along the shores/coasts of the islands, ironically at the time of year when the bays are least crowded.

The cause of such piles does not only come from local negligence, but also from overseas. As an example, the southern Sicilian coast is littered with domestic waste, and, as a result of this negligence, some of it ends up on Maltese shores, brought here by strong northern winds in winter.

Viewing all these facts, one will must ask this question: ‘what should we do to reduce such a local environmental crisis?’ Apart from education and awareness, implementation coupled with enforcement is the only way forward.

Local and EU legislation related to recycling and waste management include the Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste, the Waste Framework Directive, and the Waste Management (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations.

Progress towards the objectives set out in the strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste has been reviewed in a report adopted by the European Commission in January 2011. The Commission sees a need for further consolidation of its waste policies and will make further proposals this year, including concrete steps it intends to take in order to further move towards an EU resource-efficient recycling society.

Two suggestions: recyclable material should always be put directly into large public recycling bins; reusable organic material, like vegetable waste, should be used to make compost or as a direct fresh fertiliser in gardens or pots, which will solve the feral cat problem and the ecological problems that follow later.

Reducing one’s consumption is also another way. Incentives from the authorities can motivate environmental stewardship. After all, it all depends on the discipline and knowledge of the public; hopefully the majority will realise this before it’s too late.

Waste management education, which forms part of the EkoSkola programme, is not limited to the concept of waste separation. The aim of this type of education is to reduce the amount of waste generated and the negative impact on the environment by bringing about changes in people’s lifestyles.

It is hoped that as today’s children grow up to become tomorrow’s adults, parents and leaders, the impact of educational ventures such as EkoSkola – which seeks to empower and encourage individuals to actively participate in their communities, and bring about changes in attitudes, values and behaviour – will be visibly evident in our countryside… when dry summers will no longer reveal the widespread scrap yard beneath the winter vegetation.

 

* Fasciation – Teratology in plants: Abnormal growth in stems and flowers of plants. The abnormal appearance is caused by excessive multiplication of cells that result in widened/broadened stems and flowers. Toxins and other chemicals are to blame.

Malta’s performance in barometer survey slightly worse

Implementation of the 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

January Circular for Members

The January Circular for members now out

To download please go to Media – Newsletter and click on Circular else click on

Newsletter

Nature and photography merge to create a calendar

 

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 50th 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.

Nature Trust supports introduction of Education for Sustainable Development

 

“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.

Mediterranean bluefin tuna needs more than half measures on traceability, says WWF

Nature Trust (Malta) is a World Wildlife Fund partner

 

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.

Shark conservation gets a boost: European Commission Pushes to Close Loopholes in Shark Finning Ban

Maltese members of the Shark Alliance

welcome European proposal on shark finning

 

The Maltese members of the Shark Alliance, Nature Trust (Malta), Greenhouse, Sharklab and Sharkman’s World, have welcomed the European Commission’s long-awaited proposal to close the loopholes in the EU’s ban on shark finning, the wasteful practice of slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea.

 

The current EU regulation, adopted in 2003, is too lenient to ensure that finning does not carry on undetected and unpunished. The proposal, if adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers, would ensure that all sharks taken by EU vessels or in EU waters are landed with their fins still naturally attached to their bodies. Marine conservationists and scientists recommended this policy as the most reliable means of enforcing a finning ban.

 

Malta has been a leader in shark conservation, having been the first country in Europe to protect shark species. Last year all five MEPs signed the declaration proposing the complete finning ban. Over the last five years, Maltese members of the Shark Alliance worked hard to raise awareness and to achieve support from the public and the Maltese authorities.

 

Nature Trust (Malta) executive president Vince Attard said: “Millions of sharks are finned worldwide every year. It is great to see that the EU does not want to play a part in this practice. On behalf of the other NGOs we wish to thank our MEPs and the support we received in making this proposal successful.”

 

Sandrine Polti, shark policy adviser to the Pew Environment Group and the Shark Alliance said: “The Commission’s proposal is a positive step toward the much-needed protection of sharks. The responsibility now lies with the fisheries ministers and members of the European Parliament for all 27 EU member states, who must agree to this proposal as the only reliable way of ensuring that sharks are not finned.”

 

Shark fins are the key ingredient in a traditional and expensive Asian soup. The EU, particularly Spain, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of shark fins to Asia.

 

The Commission has proposed ending special fishing permits – still granted by some member states – that allow fishermen to remove shark fins at sea and bring bodies and fins to port separately. Spain has issued the largest number of these permits, enough to cover its entire longline fleet. The country’s fishing industry and government are expected to continue to lead the opposition to proposed improvements in the finning ban.

 

Last month, as part of the fifth annual European Shark Week, tens of thousands of concerned citizens across Europe called on EU Fisheries Ministers to help close loopholes in the finning ban and to fulfill the commitments of the EU Plan of Action for sharks.

 

Vandalism strikes again at Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park

Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park, Malta’s only national nature park, located in Mellieha, has suffered from another attack of vandalism. Hundreds of visitors, including many schoolchildren and tourists have been enjoying the park during guided nature walks and educational activities. Cleanups are constantly being undertaken on site and works on restoration of degraded areas and rural features are underway.

The park management had recently installed gates to restrict vehicular access which was causing serious soil erosion and damage to the flora and fauna as well as to reduce environmental impacts and curb illegal activities such as dumping. A series of consultation meetings had been held with park users about the management measure. The park remains freely accessible 24hours a day for anyone entering on foot or by bicycle but motorized vehicles are being restricted in certain zones of the park except for farmers and entitled users.

Two of the three gates installed were sawn off and dumped on the side of the path during last weekend whilst interpretation signs were vandalised.  The Majjistral Management Board and the Park Managers – Din L-Art Ħelwa, Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust (Malta) strongly condemn such vandalism which keeps disrupting conservation measures from being undertaken on site for it to be enjoyed by all in a  more responsible manner.The gates will be reinstalled in the shortest possible time and security is to be stepped up.

The park management encourages the public to report any illegal or suspicious activities to the Police to help ensure that this park, which belongs to the public, can be enjoyed by everyone.

Vandalism strikes again at Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park