Few people are aware that Malta is the only home to a pre-ice age plant, the Maltese Cliff Orache, and even fewer would recognise it if they stumbled upon it.

“The truth is Malta is rich in biodiversity. We are unique. Yet few people know it,” Malta Environment and Planning Authority management ecosystems manager Darrin Stevens said.

In an attempt to raise more awareness about Malta’s biodiversity, Mepa will be organising free educational Sunday tours, starting on October 24 and running until April.

The tours will take participants to seven sites which are not commonly frequented by the public, like the il-Qortin tal-Maġun garigue in Nadur, and Ta’ Lippija grassland in the ­Ġnejna area.

The group of 50 people will be taken on site to “see and feel” the special species on every habitat, which will be pointed out by the guide.

Being a small island country, Malta presents a barrier to the animal and plant species, which have to adapt and evolve to face challenges such as weather conditions, or else succumb to the habitat around them, Mr Stevens pointed out.

Malta’s isolation from the mainland is what created the new unique species. Because of this, the island is home to many unique plants, insects and animals, such as the Gozitan shrew (Crocidura sicula calypso), which is only found on the island, or the lizards which are specific to the site they inhabit.

Maltese plants attract a considerable amount of attention, Mr Stevens said, and up to a few years ago they were being targeted by foreigners who used to market them. However, many of these species have now become protected by law.

One such example is the Maltese Spider Orchid – named as such because it resembles spiders which it attracts to enable its fertilisation – which is perhaps the rarest protected plant on the island.

“We only have one left,” Mr Stevens said, without revealing the location of the last known plant.

However, due to a lack of knowledge about Malta’s biodiversity, people lacked pride for the countryside and were less inclined to protect it, he said.

“Most people probably see these plants and animals, but do not recognise them,” Mr Stevens said.

To book a place, call 2290 2021 or e-mail communication.office@mepa.org.mt. For more information log on to www.mepa.org.mt.