Dingli Cliffs score high in coastal evaluation study

Dingli Cliffs have been judged one of the most scenic splendours with high landscape value, in a comprehensive study about coastal evaluation carried out in three countries.

At the other end of the scale for Malta, Xwejni Point in Gozo and Bahar ic-Caghaq were among the sites classified as poor with low landscape value.

The conclusions were drawn in a research project entitled 'Coastal Scenic Evaluation at selected coastal areas of Turkey, UK and Malta'.

The project specifically considered coastal scenery and the manner in which coastal planners, tourism organisations and researchers in general can objectively evaluate an issue that is essentially subjective.

Funded by the British Council, this three-year project involved researchers from Malta, the UK and Turkey.

Anton Micallef of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics, Foundation for International Studies, who carried out the studies for Malta, said that despite its small size, some Maltese sites fared better than other better known sites abroad.

In all, a total of 21 sites were evaluated in Malta.

The team in the three countries researched the manner in which locals and holidaymakers with different cultural backgrounds, value coastal scenery.

The research team came out with a management tool that could facilitate prioritisation.

The novel coastal scenic evaluation technique developed considers two main sets of parameters.

Firstly, the presence/absence of a list of 26 visually impacting characteristics, which may be physical and human and which takes into account various potential forms that may be present in a coastal environment.

The landscape was broken down into a number of elements, from litter to surrounding buildings to the colour of the sand or rock.

In this way, the technique evaluates in a detailed manner what may, in reality, strike the eye at a glance.

Secondly, the study takes into account public preferences and priorities with regard to typical coastal features, referring to the findings of an in-depth survey of over 1,000 people in the three countries concerned.

In their approach to address the subjective nature of coastal evaluation, the researchers applied 'Fuzzy Logic', a mathematical technique that enables quantification of uncertainties and subjective pronouncements.

While this involves complex computations, it has been made simple for management purposes by developing a computer-based programme.

The end result is a five-stage categorisation of scenery based on the values obtained by the evaluation index.

Class 1 sites are extremely attractive natural locations with high landscape value. These include Dingli Cliffs in Malta, Little Haven in Wales, and Cirali in Turkey.

Class 2 covers attractive natural sites with high landscape value, such as Fungus Rock and the Dwejra 'Azure window' in Gozo, Tisan Temple in Mersin, Turkey, and Nash Point in Wales.

Class 3 sites were those deemed as natural, classified as average, with medium landscape value. They represent many natural sites with few outstanding landscape features or where undesirable human development detracts from the natural setting.

These include Ghajn Tuffieha in Malta, and Karaburun Akyar in Turkey. They also include urban sites with exceptional characteristics, such as Tenby South in Wales.

Class 4 sites are mainly urban, described as generally poor with medium landscape value and light development.

In these coastal locations, negative aspects are largely influenced by increasing level of urbanisation and a degradation of natural features. Examples of such sites include Xwejni Point in Gozo, Antalya Old Harbour in Turkey and Broadhaven in Wales.

Class 5 reflects urban sites, classified as poor with low landscape value and intensive/insensitive development. Such locations include Bahar ic-Caghaq in Malta and Marsalforn in Gozo, Kiz Kalesi in Mersin, Turkey and Amroth in Wales.

To date, this novel technique has been successfully applied to over 100 coastal sites spanning nine countries, most recently in a pilot study of Croatian Islands.

Dr Micallef said ICOD was holding discussions with the Malta Tourism Authority with a view to holding a comprehensive study of all of Malta's coast.

Though in its infancy, this project has already received positive reviews from several tourism- and environment-related organisations.