Call for Ta' Cenc to be protected

BirdLife Malta is seriously concerned at what is says is the increasing threat of new and extensive development at Ta' Cenc in Gozo and has appealed to the authorities to give urgent protection to this ecologically important site.

The environmental organisation said the proposed developments include extensions of a hotel, residential areas as well as a golf course.

It described Ta' Cenc as an area of outstanding natural beauty, ecological value and archaeological importance, saying it would be a major loss for the Maltese if any further development were allowed because this would impoverish the biodiversity of the site.

The cliffs boast the highest sheer drop of any cliffs on the islands, reaching an altitude of 135 metres above sea level.

According to EU criteria, Ta' Cenc figures as one of 12 important bird areas that should be afforded special protection. It has a large breeding colony of Cory's Shearwaters, numbering about 1,000 pairs, and over 150 pairs of Yelkouan Shearwater, both protected species under the EU's Birds Directive.

The cliffs hold a small colony of Storm Petrels and eight to 10 breeding pairs of Malta's national bird, the Blue Rock Thrush (Merill). It is also a breeding site for Peregrine Falcon, barn owl and common kestrel.

Furthermore, it holds a unique flora with several endemic plants that include the Maltese rock centaury (Widnet il-Bahar), Malta's national plant.

The garigue habitat is also important, both from a botanical aspect as well as for its avifauna, being one of the remaining breeding areas for Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler and Corn Bunting, among other species. The garigue is frequented by numerous species of migratory and wintering birds.

Only a small part of Ta' Cenc is a protected area where no hunting or trapping is allowed, BirdLife said. The whole area including the cliffs and the surrounding garigue areas should be protected as a national nature reserve due to its outstanding ecological value.