'Preserve' Buskett

Nature Trust (Malta), BirdLife Malta and Grupp Arkeologiku Malti yesterday called for the preservation of the Buskett natural reserve.

Within the reserve, a site earmarked as an ecological buffer zone and denoted by an Area of High Landscape value is currently being threatened by development, they said in a joint statement. The site in question lies in a very sensitive area within the valley close to the watercourse.

The original application, lodged in January, 2000 has already been refuted by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority twice earlier this year. The NGOs called on Mepa's Development Control Commission, to whom the application has been referred, to stand by the original two decisions.