Christian Peregin
Aerial photos show bird trapping at Ta' Ċenċ - Birdlife
The aerial photos show illegal bird trapping sites at Ta' Ċenċ even though notices clearly state that trapping on site is illegal.
Aerial photos of Ta' Ċenċ taken last Friday show at least 12 bird trapping sites, equipped with illegally-built stone huts and a number of unidentifiable people in the act, according to Birdlife.
These findings contradict the environmental impact assessment report that the Ta' Ċenċ developers sent to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to extend the hotel to include a heritage park.
Birdlife has called on Mepa to investigate further, arguing that trapping in this instance is against the law because the vegetation must be destroyed through burning or the use of herbicides to clear the land.
Mepa recently designated Ta' Ċenċ as a special protection area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive, and a special area of conservation (SAC) under the habitats directive, as part of the Europe-wide nature conservation network Natura 2000.
When contacted, the owner of the 156-hectare Ta' Ċenċ plateau, Victor Borg, said he was not prepared to comment, but made it clear that hunting and trapping on his property were strictly forbidden as indicated by a large sign at the entrance.
He added that he had done everything within his power to rid the land of over 300 hunters and trappers since 1999, before the EU imposed strict regulations to do so.
Mr Borg owns the Ta' Ċenċ hotel and has been trying to extend it to include a heritage park, villas and a golf course for a number of years. Mepa had refused his permit application after pressure-groups challenged the plans.
A spokesman for Birdlife said that when Mr Borg had proposed the extension to his hotel, he had presented an environmental impact assessment report which clearly stated that hunting and trapping were harmful to the area and had therefore been stopped.
The report stated: "The now terminated practice of hunting and trapping has been harmful to (the nature present) in the Ta' Ċenċ area as a whole. "The construction of bird traps and hides damages the garigue by disturbing the surface and the vegetation.
"In some cases, the integrity of archaeological sites has been compromised and structures damaged."
The spokesman said this report was sent to the Mepa board and should therefore be accurate.
"The problem is that on several occasions (Mr Borg) said that he did not allow trapping... but our surveillance proves the contrary," Birdlife said.
"If Mr Borg wants to establish a constructive relationship with NGOs and other parties... he cannot claim one thing in the report and then admit that he has no idea what is happening at Ta' Ċenċ."
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In Discussion
23 Comments
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C Mallia
Oct 21st 2008, 16:55
Regarding trapping after 31 December 2008, there are strict deadlines and commitments to be met by the Maltese Government and if these are not met them then the trapping of song birds becomes illegal. It is in the same text that Mr Mifsud Bonnici has supplied. So Mr Mifsud Bonnici, the practice of song bird trapping is not an automatic right as you seem to propose but with it comes commitments from all concerned.
Anyone know if these deadlines have been kept to-date?
S Mizzi
Oct 21st 2008, 12:55
Ok Mark, thanks for the clarification. I thought it was a fait accompli. Clearly it is not.
Philip Grech
Oct 21st 2008, 09:48
Hunters and trappers are the easiest targets. Their activity in constructing hides and trapping sites is the easiest to reverse if the need arises. How come we never hear anything from these "environmental experts" about other areas that are built up or are being built up? Try reversing Sant. Antnin valley, Bulebel, Maghtab, Sliema, Qawra and others I cannot remember at the moment, to their original state. They were all good and popular hunting grounds. Who is keeping the public from enjoying these areas' countryside?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 20th 2008, 23:30
S Mizzi
If you care to read the site indicated you will find exactly what is agreed with regards to trapping.
Explanatory note on the transition period for Malta in the frame of the Birds
Directive (79/409/EEC)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/birdsdirective/docs/2004enlarg/malta.pdf
Part of which says:
by 31 December 2007, the Malta Ornis Committee will have established the
number of wild specimens per species that may be captured in line with the
Directive to ensure sufficient genetic diversity of the captive species.
Whoever says trapping will end after December 2008 is going against what has been agreed and is fooling the public.
M Borg
Oct 20th 2008, 22:36
Birdlife, please wake up! Have you ever noticed that you are being used as puppets on a string by your colleagues in Brussels? Why is the EU picking on Malta, and Malta alone on the hunting issue? What about hunting in Belgium, France, Scotland, Ireland, England, Spain, Greece? Can anyone explain to me why Malta is being bullied by the EU? Could it be that since Malta has minimum power, within the EU bloc, the EU knows that we cannot stand up for our citizens' rights? Can it be that we are being USED to create a precedent??????
Quo Vadis Malta??? Quo Vadis Europa??
Richard Cachia Zammit
Oct 20th 2008, 20:11
@Mark Mifsud Bonnici
I don’t know why in this case you keep mentioning the Bird Directives, when it has got nothing to do with it. I’m afraid you are still missing one very important fact. Ta’Cenc is now a SPECIAL area of CONSERVATION (SAC) under the HABITATS directive. Please note the three important words special, conservation and habitats. The fact that trapping sites there have been cleared for many years doesn’t justify that it should continue to be so. The size of the trapping sites when compared to the whole area is irrelevant. The place is a conservation area and definitely you are not conserving the habitat by destroying whole patches of natural vegetation.
As far as I know, the approved hotel development on the site is limited to the existing area of the hotel and apart from that the owner has the necessary permissions from MEPA. Did the trappers have permission from MEPA to clear whole patches of vegetation? Definitely not because according to the owner, they shouldn’t even be there.
What for you is going to extremes, for others is conservation in action.
P Sultana
Oct 20th 2008, 17:59
With this attitude towards tourism development in this country entrepreneurs would do well to look at investing overseas. Why on earth is Mr Borg not being allowed to develop a truly worthwhile tourist project, including golf course, to attract higher rated tourism? The mind boggles!
G. Curmi
Oct 20th 2008, 14:09
Finally, Mark Mifsud Bonnici displays his true colours. For some time, he has been lecturing us about the "conservationist" aspect of hunting and the meaning of the “K” in FKNK. Well, we now know MMB's position on the destruction of wild plants indigenous to our islands. This damage is just fine with him as long as it is done on private property and as long as it is done for a good cause - hunting or bird trapping purposes. MMB scornfully describes the destruction of the biodiversity at Ta' Ċenċ as “it is now illegal grass cutting we are being accused of.”
As to MMB's "argument" that whatever the owner of the property does on his/her property is "up to the owner's discretion", would he argue the same point to defend someone who uses his/her private property (let's say next to MMB’s home) to manufacture illegal fireworks or illegal drugs?
So much for MMB's "conservationist" credentials. Some people just don't know when to stay silent.
Richard Cachia Zammit
Oct 20th 2008, 12:23
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Hellooo. You are still missing the fact that this area has NOW been designated as a special area of conservation (SAC) under the habitats directive...get it? You seem to be ignoring the words CONSERVATION and HABITATS. So whatever the size of the area is, it is illegal to damage or even worse remove the wild flora in such an area and just because the sites used to be cleared before, it doesn't mean that they can continue doing it now. As for the clearing of the "grass" due to the approved hotel development on this site, I'm sure the owner will have to get the approval of MEPA. Do the trappers who cleared the trapping sites have such a permit from MEPA? Definitely not because they shouldn't even be there according to the owner.
I'm sorry to say that there was a time when I was starting to really believe that there are hunters who really knew what nature conservation is all about but your reference of our natural flora as "GRASS" really shattered that image I was hoping that might exist.
S Mizzi
Oct 20th 2008, 12:21
Mark,
Please explain. Isn't trapping being phased out? Why do you talk about the EU's plans for the future of trapping and claim that its here to stay. Perhaps I misunderstood, but i'm genuinely confused here.Appreciate if you would clarify.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 20th 2008, 11:54
Richard
The indicated trapping sites have been there and regularly cleared long before you or me where born. Each trapping site is approximately 20Sq. M. in area.
The whole Ta. Cenc plateau area runs into around 1700 tumoli and you can honestly say that they are damaging our natural wild flora.
Incidentally considering trapping is here to stay once the EU plan for the future of trapping is implemented what about the existing trapping sites that fall within the Natura 2000 sites.. Will you be objecting to cleaning them too?
You do know that the Explanatory note on the transition period for Malta in the frame of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) states
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/birdsdirective/docs/2004enlarg/malta.pdf states
by 31 December 2007, the Malta Ornis Committee will have established the
number of wild specimens per species that may be captured in line with the
Directive to ensure sufficient genetic diversity of the captive species.
incidentally will the approved hotel development on this site be clearing grass. Or do you make exceptions. In this case why not for trapping sites?
I wonder who disappoints who! Going to extremes disappoints all.
Richard Cachia Zammit
Oct 20th 2008, 10:45
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
I never expected such as reply from you Mr MMB, you really disappoint me. Grass cutting? That's our wild flora that is being destroyed. The garigue is one of the richest and most important natural environment in our country and Ta' Cenc is now a special area of conservation. Mr MMB, you remember the words conservation of BIO DIVERSITY? Or hunters quote these words without even knowing what they mean? Seems like it from your reply. Again you really disappointed me.
J. Borg
Oct 20th 2008, 04:12
Mr. Mifsud Bonnici
How can you speak of sharing? What do hunters share?
Sure they claim they keep Mizieb and l-Ahrax under watch - but the rest of the population is only allowed to taste the countryside on Sundays afternoon (when hunters are not supposed to hunt).
Anyone can share a sight of a bird with Birdlife - and this experience can subsequently be enjoyed by many others.
In the case of hunting - this can never be the case, since its an I grab all 'activity'
John Scerri
Oct 20th 2008, 02:36
Never mind aerial photos!
If one goes to Google Earth and zooms down on any part of South West Malta or Gozo, one can see the shaved 'landing strips' of bird trappers going in all directions.
Shame, shame and shame.....
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 19th 2008, 23:42
Richard Cachia Zammit
So apart from occupying the Maltese countryside. depriving everyone of birds so on and so forth it is now illegal grass cutting we are being accused of.
What next Richard?
victor vella
Oct 19th 2008, 22:06
@Angelo Agius
I f you had the decency to enlarge the photo (press cont and turn your mouse wheel) you would see that where the arrows point there is clearly trapping areas. That the area is in Ta Cenc I believe that someone who hired an aircraft to take photos wouldnt be stupid enough to shoot at another area.Yes hunting and trapping must be stopped once and for all, nature belongs to all of us , But one cannot blame Mr Borg for not stopping them , the police have a right to enter private property if an illegal activity is being carried out in there so they should stop these trappers immediately.
john spiteri
Oct 19th 2008, 20:01
Just came back from malta,and its always the same story, hunters killing gods creatures,i would love to put these people against a wall and see what their last thoughts would be before they get shot,and the same with them dangerous drivers who keep overtaking dangerously and they give you 2 fingers as if saying there is no law and order and i can do what i like because im maltese.and i can drive the way i like.
Richard Cachia Zammit
Oct 19th 2008, 19:02
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
If I understood the article properly, the illegality is not the actual trapping of birds, but since now Ta' Cenc has also been designated as a special area of conservation (SAC) under the habitats directive, it is the destruction of the natural vegetation to clear the trapping sites that is actually the illegality.
Edwin Mifsud
Oct 19th 2008, 16:51
@ Mark Mifsud Bonnici
"Ta' Cenc is private property so its not up to BirdLife to decide whether trapping is to be allowed. It is up to the owner's discretion."
My house is private property, hence I am the owner. Does this give me the right to perform the illegal activity of kidnapping free creatures?
If our forefathers were allowed to vandalise nature (Bird trapping and hunting is nothing less) this does not mean that it's not high time that these people educate themselves and appreciate God's creatures.
If you must shoot a bird do so by all means, but use a camera!
James De Giorgio
Oct 19th 2008, 16:42
Answering Angelo Agius, well I'm all out for Birdlife then!!
Angelo Agius
Oct 19th 2008, 15:41
You can barely recognise if its Ta Cenc or other simillar area in these islands,if not for the pionting arrows one can hardly see the trapping sites and birdlife say they are showing bird trapping at Ta Cenc ! What is birdlife trying to do ?On the same arugument I can get a photo of a house and say that something illegal is going in there! The only thing that birdlife is trying to is to make as much harm as possible to the hunters and trappers.
Joe Camilleri
Oct 19th 2008, 12:01
Ta cenc is a private owned land. Now how come that birdlife is nosing into other people's private land. Don't they have enough bird sanctuary reserves. At this time of year, trapping is legal.
Even though Ta' Ċenċ is a special protection area and a special area of conservation, it does not mean that trapping should not be allowed.
We hope that Mr Borg will not cave in to birdlife's pressure. NGO's real hidden aim is to take that land for themselves, no matter what Mr Borg will do to satisfy them.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 19th 2008, 11:59
The argument is not a matter for BirdLife Malta to point out. Until the end of this year, trapping as has been practiced for centuries in Malta is still legal. So these trappers are not practicing anything illegal. Ta' Cenc is private property so its not up to BirdLife to decide whether trapping is to be allowed. It is up to the owner's discretion.
Natura 2000 sites throughout Europe do not disallow hunting practices. In fact an agreement signed by Birdlife International and the EU hunting body FACE acknowledges this. The practice of hunting on these sites is regulated by this agreement.
BirdLife Malta would be more credible if they practice what this agreement permits. Rather than conveniently keeping silent about it.
As more Natura 2000 sites sprout up all over Malta, Birdlife would do well to inform the public of its commitment to honor this agreement.
Maybe having to admit that they agreed to share with the hunter might be too much to accept!!