This Natura 2000 site is one of the largest in the Maltese Islands. It includes the valley systems of Wied Xlendi and Wied tal-Kantra, both of which end in the inlet of Xlendi.

Wied il-Lunzjata forms the upper part of Wied Xlendi and this is one of the few remaining valleys in the Maltese islands with a permanent freshwater supply.

Very rare species found only in the Maltese islands and typical of freshwater habitats such as the Maltese freshwater crab are present in this valley.

Wied il-Lunzjata and its diverse habitats also attract a large and diverse avifauna including egrets and herons, honey buzzards and flycatchers.

Overall, Wied il-Lunzjata serves as a staging post for such migratory birds.

The site also houses rupestrian communities on the sea-cliff faces, with endemic plants such as the Maltese hyoseris, the Maltese cliff orache and the national plant, the Maltese rock-centaury. The promontory areas of this site support species-rich garrigue and various rock pools with temporary ponds housing species of international importance, as the sub-endemic plant, the Maltese waterwort.

The flat terrain off the area of Ta’ Kantra offers a unique plant community based on the Maltese salt tree, the Maltese sea-lavender, clustered sulla and other species which thrive on the exposed bed of phosphatic nodules occurring at this area. Two other Natura 2000 sites which have been designated for their importance for certain bird species overlap the Xlendi-Wied Tal-Kantra area.

These are Rdumijiet ta’ Għawdex: Il-Ponta ta’ Ħarrux sa il- Bajja tax- Xlendi and Rdumijiet ta’ Għawdex: Id-Dawra tas-Sanap sa tal-Ħajt.

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.