Biodiversity surveys planned in conservation areas

The Biological Conservation Research Foundation, Bicref, is to undertake regular biodiversity surveys in the Ghajn Tuffieha and Ramla Bay proposed conservation areas.

The surveys are being held to assist the Gaia Foundation in its conservation management planning. They are to be preceded by a voluntary training session by Bicref's field biologists and divers on Thursday at the Gaia centre in Ghajn Tuffieha.

Various research methods and the biodiversity in these areas will be overviewed. The focus of the session would be coastal and marine biodiversity: how to study, assess and protect.

Bicref is active in marine and coastal biodiversity surveys, especially in the summer months when numerous scuba divers, snorkelling and sailing enthusiasts assist in its long-term marine biodiversity data collection.

Biodiversity research is fundamental to Bicref which believes that many of the uncontrolled local developments and activities with negative environmental impacts could be the result of misinformation, gaps in local biodiversity knowledge and lack of awareness of the importance of biodiversity to life on and around the Maltese islands.

Biodiversity research efforts could pave the way to understanding better how the incredible network of living organisms adapted through time and would be affected by the increasing and synergistic environmental changes.

Bicref's training sessions were opportunities for the organisation to welcome new voluntary members in its increasing conservation research efforts.

Bicref may be contacted at PO Box 30, Hamrun; e-mail: bicref@hotmail.com.

http://sites.keyworld.net/bicref