Environment
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‘Illegal, unregulated and undeclared’
The tuna ranching industry must be clapping its hands for joy following the news by the Scientific Committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) of the improvement of the bluefin tuna stock after having...
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Second round of prizes for collectors of plastic bottles
The second draw of Wasteserv’s Collect and Win campaign was held at the Luqa Civic Amenity site, with prizes being awarded to five members of the public who deposited plastic bottles for recycling at the Civic Amenity sites. Draws are carried out in...
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Promoting eco- and agri-tourism
Merill Eco Tours, the first company in Malta fully dedicated to providing a range of eco- and agri-tourism services, recently marked the second anniversary of its launch by reaching an agreement with the owners of Ta’ Mena Estate in Marsalforn. The...
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Leguminous plants
The common birdsfoot trefoil, known in Maltese as qrempuċ tal-mogħoż, is an annual plant that produces small, yellow flowers in winter and spring. It belongs to the leguminous family in which we also find important members such as beans, peas and...
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Arctic oil spill plans ‘too vague’
Arctic nations’ plans to start cooperating over oil spills are vague and fail to define companies’ liability for any accidents in an icy region opening up due to global warming, environmentalists said yesterday. A 21-page document by the...
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Deforestation on the rise again in Amazon
After years of gains against destruction of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil appears to be suffering from an increase in deforestation as farmers, loggers, miners and builders move into previously untouched woodland, according to data compiled by the...
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Mepa permit renewals public consultation
Mid-February is the deadline for comments following a public consultation on permit renewals as part of ongoing reforms at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. The draft guidance sets out to draw a line in shifting sands. It will be five...
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Young nature photographers on outing to Majjistral Park
Children aged seven and 10, together with their parents, recently went on a special guided outing to the Majjistral Nature and History Park. The aim was to help the participants cultivate an eye for observing details in nature and to learn about...
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Conservation project backed by Gasan Mamo
Gasan Mamo have taken up an ambitious conservation project – supporting the Gaia Foundation in the protection and conservation of the Maltese landscape. Gaia is Malta’s first integrated coastal zone management project, which started at Għajn...
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How trees can improve your health, wealth, and well-being
A seminar on the benefits and use of trees will be held on February 19 at 6pm at Attard primary school, Ħal-Warda Street, by Attard local council together with Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar. The speakers are Alfred Baldacchino and Antoine Gatt. There...
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Guided nature walk, public lecture
The public is invited to attend the next guided nature walk at Majjistral Nature and History Park today at 2.30pm. A public lecture, entitled Life in freshwater rock pools, by Dr Sandro Lanfranco, will be held on Tuesday at 6pm at Din l-Art Ħelwa,...
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The Mirror Orchid
The Mirror Orchid known in Maltese as id-dubbiena l-kaħla – (Ophrys speculum) grows on garigue and rocky steppes. It is perennial, bulbous and it leaves are flat and narrow. Flowers 2-8, with a lip characterised by a bright bluish spot, with yellow,...
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The scented bug orchid
The scented bug orchid known as l-orkida tfuħ (Orchis fragrans) is frequently found in garigue, rocky steppes and abandoned fields. It is perennial and bulbous. Its leaves are elongate, lanceolate, slightly keeled and usually erect. Its flowers are...
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Narcotic beauty
The French daffodil is a winter-flowering plant that grows in abandoned fields, steppe habitat and on hillsides. It is native to all the countries around the Mediterranean and in southern France, grown commercially for the production of an...
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The Sicilian iris
The Sicilian Iris know as l-fjurdulis Sqalli – (Iris sicula) is native in garigue, maquis and rocky steppes, also found on abandoned fields. Its robust plant grows up to 1m and it has flat broad sword-like glaucous leaves, evergreen, large showy,...
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Not a green electoral campaign
If ever any further proof was needed of how many ladder rungs the environment has slid in the local political agenda, the current electoral campaign is the most effective mirror of all. For instance, both the PN and the PL are pandering to the...
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The Maltese everlasting
The Maltese Everlasting known as is-sempreviva ta’ Għawdex – (Helichrysum melitense) confined to the western cliffs of Gozo, including the Fungus Rock Nature Reserve. It is a shrub of about 20-60cm height, occasionally more, with dense foliage, and...
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The Maltese toadflax
The Maltese toadflax known as Il-papoċċi ta’ Malta (Linaria pseudolaxiflora) is a very rare plant which lives in exposed pockets of stony soil on rocky ground close to the sea, paving and fortifications, as at Iċ-Ċittadella. It is a minute plant...
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Along came a spider...
Spiders are terrestrial arthropods and like all arthropods, they are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton – a segmented body with jointed appendages. Crabs, lobsters, scorpions and all insects are arthropods. What distinguishes spiders from...
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Mackerel taken off ‘to eat’ list
Mackerel is no longer a sustainable choice for a regular fish supper, conservationists have warned in the face of overfishing of the stock. The UK’s leading charity for protection of the seas, the Marine Conservation Society (MSC), said it had...
