Protected shrubs, trees, and garigue land have been damaged by works in the Xemxija Heights area, conservationists said on Tuesday.  

In a statement, conservation NGOs Nature Trust and Greenhouse Malta expressed their concern over what they said seemed to indicate illegal activities in the rural area. 

Members of the public who contacted both organisations reported machinery works in the area and upon investigation it transpired that a number of protected shrubs and a lentisk tree had been uprooted.

Rubble and soil had also been dumped on a significant part of the area's garigue.

Rubble and soil has been dumped on the area's garigueRubble and soil has been dumped on the area's garigue

The two NGOs said they had reported the works to both the Planning Authority and Environment and Resources Authority and received feedback that the issue would be tackled by the Compliance and Enforcement Unit.

Meanwhile, the NGOs also said that the area had only recently been surveyed by Greenhouse Malta as part of their ongoing orchid monitoring programme Wild4Orchids, a project funded by the government's Environmental Fund.

The surveys, conducted by citizen scientists, revealed an endemic orchid which is listed as restricted in the Maltese Islands in the Red Data Book and is protected.

If anyone is aware of some illegal developments they are encouraged to get in touch with Nature Trust and Greenhouse Malta on info@naturetrustmalta.org and green.uom@gmail.com or through Facebook. 

 

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