The planning authority is in the process of establishing whether burnt oil dumped on to protected cliffs in the limits of Birżebbuġa has damaged any protected species.

The illegal dumping of oil at the Tal-Mara cliffs came to the fore on Thursday when environmental organisation Nature Trust posted a photo and condemnation on its Facebook page.

When asked, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said it “is investigating this case, following reports in the media, to determine if there has been any adverse impact on protected species”.

“Any remedial measures that may be required to be taken will be determined following the conclusion of these investigations,” a spokesman said.

Biodiversity expert Alfred Baldacchino had expressed concern at the dumping, saying it could not have been accidental.

The cliffs, like other similar habitats, are home to indigenous and endemic plants species including the national plant Maltese rock centaury, or widnet il-baħar.

It is also the the natural habitat of at least two breeding birds, the Cory’s shearwater and the blue rock thrush, il­-merill, the Maltese national bird.

The plants and birds are the main reasons why the area was declared a special area of conservation and included in the EU Natura 2000 network.

The cliffs are also home to the Maltese salt tree, the Maltese cliff orache and more common endemic plants such as the Maltese sea-lavender and the silvery ragwort, known as kromb il-baħar isfar.