Planning authority schedules four ecological sites
Il-Maqluba, in Qrendi, one of the areas scheduled by Mepa.
Four ecological spots across the island, which are rich in natural heritage, have been scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Wardija Ridge, Il-Ballut tal-Wardija, Il-Wied ta' San Martin and Il-Maqluba are the environmental areas being protected.
The first three sites run in a south-western to north-eastern direction from Għajn Tuffieħa to Xemxija. The ridge and valley system is the result of a combination of tectonic movements and karstic processes that constitute a predominant feature of the rural landscape of the area. The area has been assigned various levels of protection, the highest, level one, covering the holm oak forest at Il-Ballut and the watercourse at Il-Wied ta' San Martin.
The landscape plateaus, which have been assigned a level two degree of protection as areas of ecological importance and sites of scientific value, support garigue communities characterised by rare species.
Other levels of protection have been given to the three valley systems in the scheduled areas, the upper reaches of the watercourse of Il-Wied ta' San Martin and the southern part of the promontory at the area known as L-Arġentier.
The natural area known as Il-Maqluba, in Qrendi, is one of the best examples of a deep, large-scale, inland solution subsidence structure in Malta.
It is the only natural sub-circular depression that is not filled with sediment. The doline serves as a natural soak-away reservoir.
This area supports a dense maquis community dominated by bay laurel and a native stand of Malta's national tree, the sandarac gum tree (siġra tal- għargħar).
Malta's national bird, the blue rock thrush (merill), is also known to breed at Il-Maqluba. Its immediate surroundings support a maquis dominated by carob trees and hawthorn, among other species.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
2 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joseph Schembri
Jan 13th 2009, 10:21
Well done MEPA - Il Maqluba in Mqabba is a national treasure. I remember as a teenager managing to climb down into the pit using ropes into what seemed like some sort of primeval forest!
As regards wied Babu in Zurrieq - access to this wonderful valley was limited when 'embellishment' works were carried out prior to last general elections. Zurrieq local council had promised giving back this access but this was never done.
And why is MEPA giving the green light to mobile phone companies to put up transmission equipment in residential areas without any planning permission needed when this clearly violates Structure Plan policy? Several studies show the harmful effects of the radiation from these transmitters and in many countries they are forbidden in residential areas and especially near schools.
J Borg
Jan 13th 2009, 09:30
It's good that such sites are given the appropriate protection. However being a Gozitan (living abroad) I have to ask what the Planning Authority is doing to protect more the areas (meaning the entire zones inland and not just the coast) of Ta' Ċenċ, ir-Ramla and id-Dwejra? While spending my Christmas holidays in Gozo I have noticed that the infamous concrete structure in Dwejra is still standing!
One other site that the Planning Authority should consider are the waters around the Island of Filfla. Filfla and its waters should become a natural reserve and access to these waters should be restricted and only recreational scuba diving with permit by the nature reserve authorities should be allowed. When Filfa was not accessible for political reasons during the 70s and 80s, the underwater fauna had flourished a lot. However, since boats, fishermen and divers equipped with harpoons stared to "explore" again these waters it appears that this isn't the case anymore. Filfla's surrounding waters could not only become an important natural reserve but also an attraction for the diving industry.