Maltese author Paul Borg was recently awarded the prestigious Gianfranco Merli Award for the Environment by Movimento Azzurro, the Italian national association for the protection of the environment.
The awards ceremony was held at the Conference Hall of the Camera dei Deputati in Rome.
The award is given annually to associations or people who distinguish themselves with their activity to protect the natural and cultural environment and the preservation of the national heritage.
Mr Borg has been awarded for his work in defence of the natural environment of Malta, and for his ongoing ethnographic research to preserve old crafts and popular traditions that describe the Maltese national identity.
His last work, Quest for Identity – the Mellieħa Experience, published by Mellieħa council and launched last September, was particularly praised by Movimento Azzurro.