A national ecological network of special areas of conservation is being set up by new regulations known as the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations of 2003.
The regulations, published in the Government Gazette by the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment in consultation with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, provide protection to a number of species and sites of ecological importance and also include relevant provisions of the EU habitats directive.
Through these regulations, areas are being referred to as special areas of conservation.
Mepa has issued a notice setting up the network which includes seven sites of national importance and 31 sites which are being declared provisionally as candidate sites of international importance.
They include the sand dunes of Ramla l-Hamra, in Gozo, the old holm oak forest remnants at the limits of St Paul's Bay, the cliffs of Malta, including Dingli Cliffs, the Dwejra area, in Gozo, Comino and most of the minor Maltese islands.
A number of plant and animal species are declared as protected species, such as the Maltese Everlasting, confined to cliffs and seaside localities in the west of Gozo and the Maltese Pyramidal Orchid, a rare pink orchid which flowers between February and April.
Depending on whether it is a plant or animal species, different provisions apply, but in general the deliberate picking, collecting, uprooting, destroying, capturing, killing, possessing or trading are not allowed, unless a permit is obtained from Mepa.
This protection is further strengthened in the case of protected animal life, for which the destruction and deterioration of breeding sites or resting places is also prohibited.
Penalties range from a minimum fine of Lm200 for each specimen of protected species for a first offence and include a range of terms of imprisonment and up to Lm100,000 in fines.
Moreover, any person who has been found guilty of committing an offence against the regulations shall also pay for the expenses incurred in the complete rehabilitation of the site.
Submissions from the public or other interested parties regarding these regulations are being received up to November 6 by the director general, Mepa, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana, CMR01, tel. 2290 0000, fax 2290 1585.