Restoring Buskett’s native plant communities

Life Saving Buskett is a project part financed by the European Union Life+ programme being implemented by the PARKS Directorate within the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change. It was launched in August 2014 and will ru

There is widespread agreement that one of the most well-known green areas in the Maltese Islands, bearing rare habitats and species is the Buskett woodland. Located between Rabat and Dingli, Buskett is a mixed area of semi-natural woodland and groves. Being one of the most frequented areas for recreational purposes, Buskett is highly regarded by the public as a place which deserves protection and maintenance.

One of the projects currently underway and which is being funded by EU involves, amongst other activities, the removal of invasive alien plants from Buskett. Such plants are called ‘alien’ because they do not form part of the local native vegetation. Although there are various trees and plants of foreign origin at Buskett, the problem arises when these plants are ‘invasive’, meaning they reproduce and spread very fast, and eventually settle in and dominate the area.

Invasive alien plants thus endanger native natural vegetation by aggressive competition for resources. Such species can therefore cause significant loss of local natural character and native biodiversity, unless addressed in a timely manner.

Some of the plant invaders being targeted in Buskett and which need to be removed or controlled are Ailanthus altissima (Maltese: Xumakk falz; English: Tree-of-heaven), Ricinus commu- nis (Maltese: Riġnu; English: Castor oil tree), Vitis spp (Maltese: Dielja selvaġġa; English: Wild grape vine) and Agave spp (Maltese: Sabbara; English: Century plant). Another species which requires management in the project area is Arundo donax (Maltese: Qasba; English: Great reed).

National legislation requires that measures are adopted to address the threats imposed by invasive alien species and to maintain or improve the conservation of threatened and protected native habitats and species. Although it is desirable to completely and permanently eradicate all invasive species, in most cases this is difficult and one should be more realistic taking into consideration their biological characteristics, abundance and distribution.

A number of steps are considered when carrying out the removal of alien plant species. Firstly, the area is screened to determine the exact sites from where the alien species are to be removed. The method to remove these invasive plants needs to be chosen carefully in order to prevent damage to native species and area being targeted. It also involves having a plan which works within a specified timeframe and which also caters for the appropriate disposal of plant debris.

Invasive alien plant removal is being carried out in stages, through regular and aggressive pruning. This process will continue until all branches and fo- liage are removed. The sites from where the alien plants are being removed are regularly checked and any new seedling or shoots of the invasive plants are removed by hand.

Repeated cutting and uprooting over time is expected to exhaust the plants’ reserves and seed bank with the eventuality of eradicating them.

All the above mentioned interventions follow the MEPA guidelines and are being undertaken manually with limited use of machinery and without the use of chemical herbicides so as to avoid negative impacts on the environment, non-target species as well as human health.

Last but not least, the plant de- bris from the interventions are carried in a waste carrier truck that can be securely covered and transported for incineration. This will prevent the plants from colonising new areas.

The areas from where alien species are removed are allowed to vegetate naturally and a process of habitat restoration is initiated through the planting of native trees compatible with nearby habitats.