Update 2 | BirdLife refuse to boycott board over bird laws as could be ‘counter-productive’

Five eNGOs boycott climate action board in protest at proposed law to facilitate the possession of protected birds  • Astrid Vella says NGOs 'will not rule out' future boycott of Environment Authority • Environment minister insists proposed law will strengthen bird legislation 

BirdLife Malta has refused to follow in the footsteps of five green NGOs in boycotting a climate action board as a sign of protest against weaker bird laws, as they are concerned that such action could prove counter-productive.

Five NGOs – Din  l-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, NatureTrust, and Ramblers Associations –have turned down an invitation by environment minister Leo Brincat to sit on the new board in protest at a proposed legal notice that facilitates the possession of protected birds.

Yet BirdLife was conspicuous by its absence in the protest, particularly since it had been the first organisation to condemn the legal notice.

Its chief executive Mark Sultana told MaltaToday that the new law has been postponed pending ongoing discussions between BirdLife and government about the “technical details” behind the legal notice.

“A boycott is a strong move and risks hindering the discussions,” he said. “We also don’t want to in any way compromise our position on crucial boards, such as the Ornis Committee.”

Moreover, he added that the local BirdLife Malta branch is following BirdLife International’s strategy to take a “pro-active stance” to fight climate change.

Yet FAA president Astrid Vella warned that the environmentalists will not rule out boycotting any future boards – including the seat allocated to green NGOs on the board of the new Environment Authority that will be established upon the MEPA demerger.

“We are taking it step by step and we don’t rule any future boycotts out,” she told MaltaToday. “We will have to discuss any potential action amongst ourselves beforehand though, as it is important that we remain unanimous.”

Through the controversial legal notice, people found to be in possession of protected birds will be subjected to lower fines, with the law now distinguishing between people caught red-handed shooting at a protected bird and those simply found in possession of such a bird.
Moreover, people are now allowed to be in possession of non-EU protected bird, regardless of its protection status in its country of origin.

However, Leo Brincat claimed in a statement that the proposed legal notice will strengthen bird conservation legislation, adding that his offer to the NGOs to join the climate action board is still on the table.

“This is a unique chance for environmental NGOs to offer practical proposals to government with regards our climate policies,” he said.

The St. Hubert’s Hunters (KSU) were less diplomatic, condemning the NGOs’ decision to boycott the board as “extremist”. 

“If indeed such organisations have what to offer to Maltese society, then they would not be turning down the opportunity to put their words into action for the benefit of Maltese society,” KSU president Mark Mifsud Bonnici said, while criticising the five NGOs for citing local issues as a reason to refuse to contribute to climate action.

“Globally serious foreign organisations have contributed unconditionally, and KSU trust that the NGOs will reconsider their stand for the benefit of their credibility,” he said.

In a strongly-worded statement issued this morning, the five eNGOs warned that the legal notice was drafted “specifically to aid and abet the most uncivilized and lawless practices of some hunters and trappers”.

“Coming from the ministry responsible for the environment and climate change actions, these proposals contradict the very ethos of the said ministry,” the NGOs said. “We maintain that this government is hell-bent on appeasing rather than doing the right thing.”

“The hypocrisy of allowing the killing of endangered species on the pretext that they are not protected by the EU has caused the Environment Ministry to lose all credibility.”