The Maltese islands will risk losing its countryside and coastal zone for ever unless zero tolerance in ODZs is urgently and rigidly enforced, the president of the Malta Ramblers Association, Lino Bugeja, has warned.

Speaking during the annual general meeting of the association at the Hotel Phoenicia in Floriana on Saturday, Mr Bugeja said accessibility to the countryside and coastal zones was still a major obstacle to the enjoyment of the unique natural environment. The association endorsed the recommendations submitted by the National Commission for Sustainable Development for the Maltese Islands (2006-2016) regarding the enjoyment of coastal areas.

One of the commission's recommendations is that places that combine leisure with the natural environment could be a source of improved health and, therefore, accessibility to such places should be improved.

The commission also calls for the identification of footpaths in the countryside, the checking of false claims to land title and the opening of paths abusively closed to the public.

The ramblers expressed satisfaction that the first steps have been taken by the Land Department to implement these recommendations in line with all countries in the EU and it is preparing a petition in this regard.