|
James Debono
A landscape consortium’s zeal for embellishment knows no bounds. After realising Eddie Fenech Adami’s promise of a new Spring by cultivating flowers in roundabouts, the consortium has embarked on a new mission: that of managing Buskett as if it were just another roundabout.
Environmental organisations have expressed outrage at the consortium which is currently engaged in embellishing Buskett wood through the removal and pruning of bay laurel, the cutting down of trees and the use of herbicides.
Officially, the line goes that the consortium’s mission is that of “cleaning, mending, gathering and pruning” and is “technically correct.”
But Nature Trust spokesperson Annalise Falzon has described “cleaning” activities in Buskett as “more suitable for garden environments than natural sites.”
Buskett is an International Important Bird Area and qualifies as a Special Protected Area under the EU Birds Directive as well as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU’s Habitats Directive.
BirdLife President Joe Mangion revealed that on Monday members of his organisation found out that the ‘vegetation-managers’ at Buskett were cutting down the Pecan Nut Trees situated in Buskett.
This contradicts an earlier statement by the ministry responsible for the environment that denied that trees are being cut down.
Nature Trust has also written to MEPA to alert them that during a site inspection in the “cleaned” sites in Buskett evidence had been found showing the removal and pruning of bay laurel.
MaltaToday has also asked MEPA whether any permits have been issued to give clearance for the works in Buskett but no answer has been forthcoming.
Speaking to MaltaToday, Annalise Falzon questioned whether any permits were in hand before the works started.
“The areas cleared include sites where saplings of protected bay laurels and oak tree were attempting to regenerate. Such species are protected by Legal Notice 12 of 2001,” Falzon said.
While the Ministry for the Environment and Rural Affairs insists that works are being conducted by qualified persons, BirdLife’s Joe Mangion is sceptical. “What studies have been carried out prior to the works? Have the management plans for the area been carried out? Has any consultation been done with botanists and ornithologists to identify the risks caused by human intervention and to avoid them? To what extent is MEPA involved in supervising the works and ensuring no damage is done?”
Both Nature Trust and BirdLife have reported irregularities in these works. MaltaToday has also learnt that the government has turned down BirdLife’s offer of assistance to ensure that the natural environment is adequately protected during these works.
By the time these works were stopped one of these large trees had already been given the chop. The Environmental Ministry insists the cutting and pruning of trees and the current works currently underway at Buskett are technically correct and it is being done to ensure that the surrounding environment is safeguarded.
Joe Mangion disagrees. “The statement issued by the Ministry is in itself an admission that the management works in respect of the wild vegetation are incorrect and incompatible with the sensitivity of the site as a unique area of great natural importance and ecological value. In its statement the Ministry also said that the herbicide that is being used is not dangerous and is being used to clear ground vegetation in passageways where damage is being caused to rubble walls.”
Nature Trust’s Annalise Falzon was stunned to hear that herbicides were used on site. “The unique insects, birds, amphibians, mammals, plants that could be affected by such herbicide application and clearing activities cannot be overlooked.”
According to the ministry, works carried out include the reopening of a water passageway, the building and restoration of rubble walls, removal of ivy plants as the latter are causing more problems to the existing trees and walls.
BirdLife is objecting to the removal of the ivy plants. According to BirdLife, apart from attracting a huge number of insects, ivy produces berries that are a major food source for birds.
“In Buskett we get concentrations of migratory birds feeding on the berries from around January to March.”
BirdLife also disputes the ministry’s assertion that the ivy that grows around them is killing trees and that rubble walls are falling down due to the ivy.
“On the contrary, the ivy acts as a binder to keep rubble walls in place,” said Joe Mangion.
According to the ministry the undergrowth is being removed in order to reduce the risk of fires. But this is not the case according to BirdLife.
“Fires are caused by man and what is needed is proper surveillance by on-site trained wardens.” insists Mangion.
According to NatureTrust the undergrowth layer at Buskett, which has taken centuries to form, should not be regarded as a “garden-like environment” but should rather be allowed to regenerate without facing yearly setbacks.
Mangion also notes that the undergrowth is a valuable component of the site as it is a habitat where insects abound, butterflies live and breed, some birds build their nests and likewise feed on insects, berries and seeds.
Nature Trust is also concerned that the government is setting a bad example to the general public.
“How can we keep trying to educate the public and schoolchildren by visiting Buskett when there is no proper protection of the site by the authorities themselves?” asks Annalise Falzon.
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
|
