Protecting nature parks against vandalism

Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park, Malta’s main national nature park, located in Mellieħa, has again been targeted by vandals. A gate controlling cars at the entrance to the park was damaged again. This time round it was ripped out of its place.

This was not all. Interpretation panels in the park have been deliberately damaged. In addition, fires of unknown origin have spread at Xagħra l-Ħamra. The flames were controlled by the Civil Protection Department, which was alerted by a farmer who was passing by.

The park itself includes a stretch of three kilometres of protected coastal cliffs designated as part of a larger special area of conservation of international importance within the Natura 2000 network of sites. This is according to the European Habitats Directive, which calls for the effective management of such sites through the adoption and implementation of management plans.

The Majjistral management board, following a series of consultation meetings with park users, installed gates to restrict vehicular access because this was causing serious soil erosion and damage to the flora and fauna. Another aim was to reduce environmental impacts and curb illegal activities such as dumping.

The park remained freely accessible 24 hours a day for anyone entering on foot or by bicycle but motorised vehicles are being restricted in certain zones of the park except for farmers and entitled users.

The Majjistral Park is not alone in suffering at the hands of vandals. Last May, vandals broke into Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre and uprooted and stole over 170 newly planted trees including those planted by VIPs just a month before as part of Nature Trust’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The vandals also broke into a store-room in the same park and stole equipment including tools, wheel burrows and pipes that are used for the maintenance of the trees.

Moreover, just two months before, the Wied Għollieqa Nature Reserve witnessed a vandal attack with the culprits spraying graffiti on restored rubble walls and overturning a few in the process.

All these acts have rightly been condemned. Yet, this is not enough.

Vandalism cannot be allowed to disrupt conservation and similar initiatives. It must be addressed with a sound and proper strategy that also aims at encouraging and guiding the public into getting actively involved in the fight against such and other forms of acts of destruction by irresponsible individuals.

Dealing with vandalism in general – such as the recent case of boys jumping from one car to another or instances of defaced and removed road signs – would require action based on education, social programmes, solid prevention by the criminal justice system and also opportunity reduction.

However, to address what appear to be cases of malicious damage in the Majjistral park and property theft from the Xrobb l-Ghagin park, as well as certain very suspicious fires experienced in sensitive places like the Miżieb and Aħrax reserves, there is need for a “problem oriented” approach that looks at the nature of the incidents and then employ tactics based on the understandings gained through such a diagnosis.

Having and giving witness to a fully-fletched coordinated focus on the causes of vandalism in general and in parks in particular, including through holding offenders accountable for their actions, is imperative. Hand in hand with NGOs, which, in many cases, are doing a wonderful job inspired by their ideals and through their mainly volunteer human resources, many a good thing can be planned and put into place.