The Ċittadella is mainly valued for its historical and cultural significance, and only a few are aware that its bastions also shelter two of Malta’s rarest plants, Linaria pseudolaxiflora (Maltese toadflax/papocci ta’ Malta) and Matricaria aurea (Golden mayweed/Kamumilla nana).

During my regular crossovers to Gozo I rarely miss the stroll at the Ċittadella. However, my last visit on Easter weekend has ended with a huge disappointment after I was witness to the extermination of a whole population of these two particular species by the application of herbicide in weeding operations at St John demi-bastion.

Linaria pseudolaxiflora is a very rare species of high conservation importance endemic to Malta and the Pelagie Islands. It is a strictly protected species as listed in Appendix I of the Bern Convention and Schedule IV of LN 257 of 2003 of the local Environmental Protection Act. It is also listed in Schedule II of LN 311 of 2006 and Annex II of the Habitats Directive. In fact, the presence of this plant was determinant in the establishment of the Natura 2000 site and designation of the Ċittadella as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is the highest rank that can be attributed to a site for its ecological value by the EU Habitats Directive.

The other species of concern, Matricaria aurea, is so rare that in Malta it is only known to inhabit the Ċittadella and nowhere else. Also, the particular type found locally has a restricted distribution in Malta, Lampedusa and Cyprus only. It is also protected and listed in Schedule III of LN 311 of 2006 as a plant of national interest whose conservation requires the designation of SACs.

The survival of the latter plant has been threatened already in the past. In fact, this ill-fated plant has been documented in the Red Data book of the Maltese islands as “locally extinct” when it was thought to have been completely eradicated following interventions to the fortifications in 1981. This time the whole population of this plant has been wiped out again except for a few individuals, which have been spared due to their isolated location of growth. I cannot vouch on the reasons which prompted such actions. Probably it is part of the preparations for the next approaching cultural event that is set to be held at the Ċittadella. In any case, the damage incurred has been totally unnecessary.

This shameful act shows lack of understanding of local environmental policies by those responsible for the public works at the Ċittadella and lack of planning and communication with those responsible for the management of SACs. I would like to appeal for the intervention of the relevant authorities for a serious action plan to restore and maintain the extant populations, a monitoring programme to assess the natural recolonisation of these plants in the area and a contingency plan where seeds are collected and stored for the genetic conservation of these species.

Finally I also appeal not to spray herbicide at St Michael demi-bastion for the same reasons.