Commissioner for environment and planning discusses rights of private ownership with hunting federation

The commissioner for environment and planning exchanged views with the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta, FKNK, regarding a number of issues that they were facing in the practice of their activity. Other issues that were discussed included better signage posts of demarcation between private and public land, the Public Domain Act and any effect this can have on the rights of private ownership.

The meeting follows a report published by the commissioner, “Access to the Countryside – The Right to Ramble”, which raised concerned with FKNK.

During the meeting, the commissioner categorically stated that the report in no way hinted at the notion that private landowners would be forced to allow passageways for rambling through their property. “Private property owners' rights, including any rights that appertain to private footpaths leading to privately owned land, will not be lessened, eradicated or affected in any manner,” the commissioner said, adding that access to the these areas would be to the sole discretion of the individual land owners.

The commissioner explained that, as stated in the report, the rambling trail network will focus on public land, and that private landowners would only join the network at their own discretion.

“The scope of this report is to suggest a possible method of providing a legislative framework within which rambling can be carried out without prejudicing landowners’ rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their property,” the original report read.

The commissioner added that the report emphasised the need for mutual respect of usage rights of open countryside between legitimate stakeholders.

Both parties agreed that the countryside was diminishing and with the increased diversity of leisure outdoor activities, pressure was increasing for multiple uses on public land.

In his report, the commissioner recommended enacting legislation that introduces the concept of access rights, whereby the prerogative of landowners to regulate access would be recognised while the presence of groups of ramblers will provide a monitoring and ‘watchdog’ service in favour of the upkeep and preservation of the landscape.

Thus, according to the commissioner, the proposed scheme would ensure control to access in the interest of safety, biodiversity conservation and better land management.