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Reference is made to the news article and editorial comments on the scheduling of Ta’ Cenc featured in Malta Today (Sunday January 8, 2006).
Contrary to what was implied in the opinion ‘Gift of life as she knew it’, there was no “mystery” behind the exclusion of sites from protection, but there was a policy decision to nominate candidate sites for Natura 2000 or Specially Protected Areas only those areas which had been scheduled under the provisions of the Development Planning Act. This ensures that such designations would have undergone a public consultation process following which any submissions made by the public are duly considered by MEPA. This is in line with Government’s commitment towards transparency in public administration.
Extensive parts of Ta’ Cenc area, including the adjoining Mgarr ix-Xini watercourse and the watercourse at Sabbara Valley, have been scheduled for protection as sites of scientific importance for reasons of ecological and geomorphological significance since November 9, 2001. Included in the protection declaration are a number of caves, trees, dry stone walls, aquaduct and pumping station, among other cultural assets (Refer to GN 937/01).
Moreover, please note that the coastal cliffs from the area of Ta’ Cenc to Ta’ l-Ikbiex are scheduled as Level 1-Site of Scientific Importance as per GN 853 of 2005, published on August 12, 2005.
MEPA is now in the process of proposing the coastal cliffs as a Specially Protected Area in terms of the Wild Birds Directive.
Ray Bezzina
Communications Co-ordinator
Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Editor’s note: This letter confirms that Ta’ Cenc is not included in the Natura 2000’s list of SPAs, and is still excluded. The area that George Pullicino’s ministry wishes to designate as an SPA is not the area where Mr Victor Borg would like to extend his development.
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