Salt marsh 'under threat'

Nature Trust Malta, the environmental NGO, has pledged to support the recently founded action committee of Marsascala residents committed to safeguarding the Maghluq Nature Reserve.

Nature Trust urged the Malta Environment and Planning Authority not to approve application PA 00924/04 to build apartments in the valley.

Maghluq Valley, it said, maintains the viability of the salt marsh in the area and building there would mean losing another of the five remaining salt marshes in Malta.

A salt marsh is enriched by rare and vulnerable species, which have adapted to a wetland environment. The species include submerged plants like the sea rush and the Tassel Pondweed and the aquatic species killifish.

Nature Trust said it was ironic that the proposal comes at a time when Mepa and the Marsascala local council were discussing measures to manage Maghluq effectively and use it for educational purposes.

Nature Trust urged the council to officially oppose the proposed development.