Rural deterioration

Rural areas in Gozo are going through a period of rampant degradation. The countryside is being left to deteriorate without any measures being taken to safeguard the natural beauty and prevent further damage to the existing heritage, which includes the valleys, garigue, country paths and wayside chapels, like that dedicated to St Cecilia in Xewkija, which is of great historical importance.

One of the most beautiful valleys in Gozo is the one in Marsalforn. This valley is very important since it serves as a natural reservoir of rainwater that is used for irrigation by farmers who work the fields nearby.

Yet the valley is left to fill up with debris and all sorts of waste, year in, year out. Despite public appeals every summer to clean it up and clear a channel for rainwater, it is left in a pitiful state, so that most of the rainwater is lost to the sea.

To add insult to injury, the natural flora of this valley has been disturbed by the planting of alien, invasive eucalyptus trees along the valley bed at Marsalforn, just a stone's throw away from a highly sensitive, rare population of Chaste trees. This was a very bad decision and whoever is responsible for it doesn't understand the implications of an ecosystem.

These eucalyptus trees can be detrimental to the Chaste trees (Vitex agnus-castus), which are more common in Gozo, especially in valleys near the sea through which the water runs.

The stems of these shrubs were used in the past to make basket handles. To make matters worse, the area recently witnessed the construction of cement bridges - great eyesores - over the water course.

Similar constructions have been noted in other areas in Gozo. Part of the water course at Xlendi Valley, for instance, has been obliterated by recent works, such as the opening of a concrete passage in the valley, which ends in a dense growth of reeds. The valley is full of debris and waste matter, and needs a good clean-up.

Such passages and bridges are of use to the local farmers but care should be taken in the way these are constructed to respect the environment. They should be maintained to safeguard the natural beauty and prevent any form of hindrance to the watercourse.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is urged to enforce its decisions in these areas. Other smaller valleys, such as Wied ta' Zejta, which is under the jurisdiction of the Victoria Local Council, is in a disgraceful state with rubbish accumulating week in, week out (see photo taken 12 days ago).

The garigue in various parts of Gozo is being rapidly degraded by the dumping of rubbish and the setting up of numerous sites for laying nets to trap birds. Bird trappers are setting up sites to lay their nets, driving their vehicles on the garigue and building small stone shelters in the fields.

The garigue at other places and on certain hillsides all over the island are bearing the hallmarks of illegal offroading. This normally occurs on Sundays. Perhaps it would be a good idea to do some law enforcement on Sundays and public holidays, too!

The councils of Sannat and Xewkija should be applauded for their initiative to make a heritage and garigue park at Mgarr ix-Xini Valley, a place of natural beauty, and numerous flora and fauna.

Any unnecessary building must be prohibited in this area and a plan should be drawn up to maintain and manage these parks.

MEPA is urged to clamp down on any illegal buildings in Gozo, and to keep up the pressure on a number of notorious illegal buildings around the island. Most of these semi-finished constructions have been there for ages and it seems they are still hoping to get the necessary clearance from MEPA.

We are in the last month of summer and a thorough clean-up of the valleys should be undertaken before the rains come. One should also mention the dunes in Hondoq Bay in Qala, whose nocturnal vulnerable fauna is being adversely affected by the abnormal amount of light pollution emanating from spotlights found in this bay.

Such an amount of light should not be allowed and the night fauna of the place should be protected also by restricting the number of barbecues taking place there. Is Qala council enforcing the law by controlling this activity?

Gozo is still a beautiful, tranquil place. A clean-up of the country paths and the whole countryside should be started without any further delay and the law enforced to keep our island clean for everyone to enjoy.