The Malta Environment and Planning Authority today launched 22 plans for the management of Natura 2000 sites, even though the Authority is in the process of being split and the implementation is assigned to a new environment authority not yet set up.

The management plans were approved by Mepa last September and have been awaiting ministerial approval since then. The sudden launch of the consultation period when the government has published the Bills on the separation of the environment and planning functions of the Authority raised questions on why the process was not handled by the new Authority.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat was not present for the launch of the draft plans. Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon, who addressed the press conference, said the time had now come to face “the challenge of protecting what is beautiful on our islands”.

There is no Budget allocated for the management of the sites since the new Authority is not yet set up, let alone functioning.

Mepa said each site had a “budget plan” that would allow NGOs and government departments to apply for EU funds.

Malta has, to date, designated a total of 34 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites covering 13 per cent of the total land area. For management purposes some sites have been grouped together as one site resulting in a set of 30 sites requiring management provisions.

For eight of these sites, there will be no management plans but a Conservation Order only. The plans for five marine Natura 2000 sites are not yet done.

The preparation of management plans emanates from a legal requirement to prepare conservation measures required for protected sites under the Environment and Development Planning Act, and under the EU’s Habitat’s Directive.

The duration of the public consultation period is six weeks, until September 30. There will also be two public seminars to debate the plans: one on August 7 and another on August 10. 

The draft management plans can be downloaded from the website www.natura2000malta.com.mt

Submissions should reach Mepa by September 30.

 

 

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