Għadira and its environs
This site covers a wide variety of habitats some of which are very rare in the Maltese islands. The site consists mostly of garrigue, steppe and agricultural land, which host species of flora and fauna. Some of these species have a very restricted...
This site covers a wide variety of habitats some of which are very rare in the Maltese islands.
The site consists mostly of garrigue, steppe and agricultural land, which host species of flora and fauna.
Some of these species have a very restricted distribution in the Maltese islands among which the only remaining population of the sub-endemic beaked spider orchid.
The Għadira area also has an important wetland close to the popular sandy beach which is very important for water birds. Ever since this wetland was protected and managed as a refuge for migratory birds, a number of wetland birds have started to breed.
One of the three populations of the Maltese killifish is found at this site. The other two populations are at another two Natura 2000 sites, Simar and Magħluq (Marsascala).
The Maltese killifish is a brackish water fish species which can only be found in the Maltese islands. The Għadira nature reserve can be visited from November until May between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This Natura 2000 site will be subject to the preparation of a management plan and/or legislation in the near future, as part of an EU-funded project that Mepa is undertaking for the management planning all the terrestrial Natura 2000 sites of the Maltese islands.