eNGO calls for setting up of up Environmental Crime Police unit

● CCTV in ecologically important sites

Nature Trust – FEE Malta is urging the government to allocate more funds towards environmental conservation and protection.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna will present next year’s budget on Monday.

The eNGO noted that since Malta has achieved a surplus in its budget, it was about time that one of the pillars of sustainable development – the environment, with special reference to our natural heritage - was given the attention it deserved after decades of neglect.

It made a number of suggestions, including allocating funding for the implementation of the management plans for the Natura 2000 sites. “In this way these areas will offer green, open spaces for the wellbeing of society and also help promote quality tourism such as eco-tourism and trekking tourism.”

It also called for funds for the creation of proper Marine Protected Areas and their implementation, including zonation such as no-take zones, diving zones, and so on. This would help to make diving tourism a value-for-money activity while also protecting marine ecology through carrying capacity and controlled tourism, as in Trieste, where diving tourism is a major activity, the group said.

Nature Trust – FEE Malta is also calling for funds for law enforcement to set up Environmental Crime Police to be able to take action on illegal dumping, littering, illegal development, environmental degradation, illegal hunting and biodiversity protection.

Other proposals include the setting up of CCTV systems at ecological important sites, afforestation projects and site identification to help combat climate change, improve air quality and offer more sites for the public to enjoy, and funds to designate more national parks and their implementation and management.

“The ever- increasing pressure caused by urban sprawl in ODZ, illegal hunting, off-roading and dumping, together with the huge waste management and transport problems, puts further responsibility on all citizens and leaders to embrace the little that’s left and do our utmost to protect it. This is vital for the well-being of society,” the eNGO said.