Four ecological spots across the island, which are rich in natural heritage, have been scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Wardija Ridge, Il-Ballut tal-Wardija, Il-Wied ta' San Martin and Il-Maqluba are the environmental areas being protected.

The first three sites run in a south-western to north-eastern direction from Għajn Tuffieħa to Xemxija. The ridge and valley system is the result of a combination of tectonic movements and karstic processes that constitute a predominant feature of the rural landscape of the area. The area has been assigned various levels of protection, the highest, level one, covering the holm oak forest at Il-Ballut and the watercourse at Il-Wied ta' San Martin.

The landscape plateaus, which have been assigned a level two degree of protection as areas of ecological importance and sites of scientific value, support garigue communities characterised by rare species.

Other levels of protection have been given to the three valley systems in the scheduled areas, the upper reaches of the watercourse of Il-Wied ta' San Martin and the southern part of the promontory at the area known as L-Arġentier.

The natural area known as Il-Maqluba, in Qrendi, is one of the best examples of a deep, large-scale, inland solution subsidence structure in Malta.

It is the only natural sub-circular depression that is not filled with sediment. The doline serves as a natural soak-away reservoir.

This area supports a dense maquis community dominated by bay laurel and a native stand of Malta's national tree, the sandarac gum tree (siġra tal- għargħar).

Malta's national bird, the blue rock thrush (merill), is also known to breed at Il-Maqluba. Its immediate surroundings support a maquis dominated by carob trees and hawthorn, among other species.