Environmental authorities have finally completed management plans for natural treasures such as Filfla, Ramla's sand dunes, Buskett woodlands and marshlands at il-Ballut ta' Marsaxlokk. 

The 22 management plans and 8 conservation orders completed by the Environmental and Resources Authority cover all of Malta's land-based Natura 200 sites. 

The plans, which are site-specific, address the various challenges each of the sites faces, lays out objectives to protect the areas and provides guidelines for anything from their ecological restoration to visitor management and sustainable tourism.

Environment Minister Jose Herrera said the plans would help create more green jobs and attract further investment, adding that the focus now had to shift on implementing the plans.

Plans have been in the pipeline for several years. Back in 2011, authorities had pledged to complete plans for all Natura 2000 sites by 2014. 

The plans were then released for public consultation in July 2015, 10 months after they had been approved. The consultation period ran until September 2015. 

Eight months ago, Dr Herrera had promised to deliver the completed plans within "weeks."

Plans were developed by the ERA in consultation with key stakeholders including NGOs, local councils and government entities.

Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of nature conservation areas, established to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened terrestrial and marine species and habitats for present and future generations. Malta has 34 terrestrial Natura 2000 sites which together cover over 13 per cent of the total land area of the Maltese Islands.