Mepa's role questioned

The environmental non-governmental organisation Nature Trust Malta has questioned whether the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is really the proper entity to safeguard the natural environment after its declaration that it will protect the cliffs at Ta' Cenc but not the adjoining and ecologically related garigue area.

Ta' Cenc garigue, the NGO said, is one of the most pristine and well-preserved examples of garigue in the archipelago.

Nature Trust said it was aware of pressure to turn the area into a large tourism complex but it expected Mepa to comply with its mission statement and protect the whole area.

Recently, Mepa announced the scheduling of the coastal cliffs at Ta' Cenc and identified the site as an important bird area of EU importance. It said the scheduling would provide a high level of protection to this habitat.

The cliff area, which qualifies as a Level 1 site of Scientific Importance, harbours a concentration of threatened bird species that include Cory's shearwater, Yelkouan shearwater and the European storm petrel.