The independent assessment to establish the damage done to habitats and species at Dwejra, which won it a Natura 2000 site designation, has started.

It is being carried out by landscape ecologist and environmental planner Louis F. Cassar, director of the Institute of Earth Sciences at University, after the bulk of the sand-like construction material was removed earlier this week.

The material, which had been laid down for filming of the TV series Game of Thrones, had hardened and workers had to use pickaxes to break up the new layer.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said now that cleaning was being done by manual brushing, Dr Cassar and his team had “started to assess the situation and the possible resulting implications, if any, on the area earmarked for filming activities”.

The laying of sand and aggregate had been blamed for the “total elimination of an ecosystem” by former assistant director at Mepa’s Environmental Protection Directorate Alfred Baldacchino, while geologist Peter Gatt had said the material could reduce the level of detail in fossils.

Mepa said it was constantly monitoring the clean-up at Dwejra to ensure the removal of sand from the site was being carried out without damaging the rock surface.