Nature Trust calls for Ta' Cenc to be protected

Nature Trust is calling on the government to include the Ta' Cenc site on the EU's network of protected areas known as Natura 2000.

The non-governmental organisation expressed concern that despite the fact that the Prime Minister listed 36 sites in Malta and Gozo for protection in his budget speech, Ta' Cenc remained off the list.

Ta' Cenc was a site of ecological, historical, geological, archaeological and geomorphologic importance, it pointed out.

The cliff area was also an important bird area for various species, such as the scarce spectacled warbler, the corn bunting, the blue rock thrush, and has one of the most impressive colonies of cory's shearwater in the Maltese islands and a small colony of the otherwise elusive storm petrel. The area includes a rich Mediterranean plant biodiversity.

The organisation noted the pressure being put on the site through an application filed at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the development of various bungalows and a hotel at Ta' Cenc.

It also noted that Mepa, the authority responsible to protect the natural environment, had proposed the site to the government as a possible location for a golf course.

"When one considers the value of the site and sees the proposed development in the area from private industry and the nature protection authority one cannot but not feel shocked at such instances. One asks if this is the way sustainable development should take place," Nature Trust said.