User:NatureTrustMalta/Nature Trust (Malta)

NATURE TRUST AT A GLANCE Nature Trust (Malta) was officially launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic on Friday 8 January 1999 following the merger between the Society for the Study and Conservation of Nature (SSCN) founded 1962, Arbor founded 1983 and Verde founded 1997. Marine Life Care Group (MLCG), founded in1992, joined along in 2001. Nature Trust (Malta) today has a membership of 2,200. making it one of the oldest and biggest environmental group in the Maltese islands

OUR MISSION STATEMENT “Committed to the conservation of Maltese nature by promoting environmental awareness, managing areas of natural and scientific interest, and lobbying for effective environmental legislation.”

Nature Trust (Malta) is a non profit non government environmental organization working in the Maltese Islands. It is also a privilege partner of World Wild Fund for Nature working close with WWF and also active with other International environmental organizations

PATRONAGE The President of the Republic of Malta: 1999 - HE Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici 1999 – HE Dr Guido Demarco 2004 – HE Dr Eddie Fenech Adami 2009 – HE Dr George Abela

Postal Address: 	P.O. Box 9, Valletta CMR 01. MALTA Offices: 		Wied Ghollieqa Environment Centre – University of Malta Campus Car Park 1 – Level 3, Tal-Qroqq, Msida, Malta E Mail : 		info@naturetrustmalta.org Web site: 		www.naturetrustmalta.org

SET-UP Council and Committees

Nature Trust (NT) national Council: responsible for the policies of the organisation through senior officials and other secretaries.

Executive Committee: responsible for the general administration of Nature Trust (Malta) and is made up of the Senior Officials of the organisation (President, General Secretary, Finance Secretary).

Conservation Committee: responsible for the monitoring of ecologically important sites, drawing up conservation strategies, and compilation of data, EIA for internal reference and of scientific reports. The conservation committee works closely with our Scientific Consultative Committee made by various experts and scientists in the field. Representatives from the conservation committee also attend MEPA (Malta Environment Planning Authority) Public hearings.

Marine Life Conservation Committee and Rescue Team: responsible for marine and coastal conservation issues in liason with the Conservation committee, and for the rescue tasks of marine wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and whales.

Education Committee: is responsible for all youth and kid members’ activities, as well as for the production of the magazine Il-Ballottra. The Education Committee also coordinates School visits to our managed sites, Seminars and courses and EkoSkola (an FEE Green Flag Programme)

Youths Committee: this is responsible for youths activities and events.

Representation on other bodies.

Nature Trust (Malta) is represented in the following local committees: •	NCSD - National Commission for Sustainable Development (Chaired by the Prime Minister) •	Eco schools Steering Committee (Chaired by Nature Trust) with representatives from the Education Division and the Ministry for Rural affairs and Environment. •	Young Reporters for the Environment Steering Committee (Chaired by Nature Trust) with representatives from the Education Division and the Ministry for Rural affairs and Environment •	Monitoring Board on Structural Funds (Chaired by OPM)

On the International level Nature Trust: •	Is a privileged partner of WWF. •	Is a board member of MIO (Mediterranean Information Centre) •	Is member of FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) for which NT is the Malta co-ordinator •	Achievements since 1962 by NTM (Through lobbying with national authorities and campaigns)

•	Legal protection for wild flowers in the Maltese islands •	Legal Protection for Indigenous trees in Malta (Legal notice 12) •	Legal protection for two species of Sharks (Great white and Basking Shark) •	Legal protection of Cetaceans •	Legal protection of specific sites – Wardija, Buskett, Dwejra, Wied Ghollieqa, White Tower Bay sand Dunes, Marsaxlokk Salt Marsh etc •	Legal Protection for the Frog, Lizards snakes, bats etc •	EU Funding for Dwejra heritage Park •	Norwegian and EEA Grant for Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre •	Stopped unsustainable development projects

Management of Nature Reserves

Wied Ghollieqa Nature Reserve (1990) Wied Ghollieqa nature Reserve is situated between the University of Malta and Kappara. This project which started during 1988 was aimed at planting thousands of Mediterranean trees (around 8,000) in this protected valley. This site has been entrusted to NT for its management by the former Environment Protection Department – Ministry for the Environment. Over 6000 trees have so far been planted in the area thus extending the past ten years work of one of the former NGOs now forming NT. A nursery has also been set up in the same area to grow more indigenous trees from seeds.

Nature Trust is following a five-year management plan for the above reserve.

Students visit this reserve on a daily basis where environmental educational activities are held by NTM staff. Students learn how to identify trees and shrubs and respect nature. The Reserve also has an environment centre where presentations and environmental activities are also held.

Wied Ghollieqa Environment Centre

Xrobb L-Ghagin Park and Wildlife rehabilitation Centre (2007) NTM has been entrusted the management of the Xrobb L-Ghagin where restoration works is taking place on the ex Deutsche Welle site. The works include an afforestation project on part of the site, a garigue and steepe area for educational purposes, a wildlife rehabilitation centre for marine turtles, cetaceans, wild birds, wild reptiles and mammals. The park shall offer also sleep over facilities for visiting students both local and foreign doing environmental work or studies.

NTM has recently managed to get co-funding for part of this project through the Norwegian and EEA Grants

Activities and Annual events

Guided walks and talks Guided walks for members, which are also open to the general public, are being organised throughout the year to various ecologically important sites. These activities are often being organised in conjunction with local councils. The aim is to create awareness among councillors and local residents alike, on the natural coastal and land environment found in the area. Illustrated talks are organised for members and their friends on various topics of Natural History.

School Visits Nature Trust School delegates and our Education Officers carry out educational activities in state schools during the Summer Schools Programs As from March 2002 visits have started during the scholastic year through a full-time teacher. These visits have intensified as from October 2002. A mobile exhibition has also been launched whereby schools are to keep the exhibition for one week while activities are carried during that week in the school. Activities depend on agreement with the individual schools. This is part of NT's education development plan. Education will also be based on other initiatives such as schools competition; youth centre visits and various activities for members and groups such as scouts and guides. The education team is responsible for such tasks. NT is also proceeding with arrangements for the set up of education centres in the reserves. Students Visiting the Reserve Courses Nature Trust organises regular courses for the public such as dry stone rubble wall restoration courses, tree growing and maintenance etc Attendance certificates are given to those who qualify at the end of the course.

Youth projects During 2005 NT has been the host NGO for the Youths programmes funded by the EU and the local national Youths agency such as energy, water,  ozone etc. Another event will include a training course on sustainable tourism.

FEE Programmes Nature Trust is also the Foundation for Environmental Education- FEE representative in Malta. It is today running the Green Flag programme under the name of EkoSkola in the Maltese Islands. Today there are over 100 schools participating with over 30,000 students. During 2006 the Blue Flag was launched and two beaches are now working towards getting the blue flag eco label. In 2007 FEE Malta also launched the Young Reporters for the Environment Programme and in the very first year two schools have won the International YRE award from FEE International. In 2011 the Programme LEAF (Learning About Forests) will be launched

Marine Conservation Marine Protected Areas: Nature Trust (Malta) has been lobbying hard for the designation of MPA around the Maltese islands. Through a partnership programme launched by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority Nature Trust (Malta) is preparing the way for two sites to be managed by NT – Cirkewwa MPA and Delimara MPA. Another MPA in the making is the one at Dwejra mentioned above

Marine Rescue Team: The MRT is a team of volunteers with NTM responsible for the rescue of Marine Turtles, dolphins and whales that get stranded in the Maltese waters. Shifts groups are on standby 24 hours each day in case of stranding reports. During 2002 a training course was held by UK experts to this team made up of 10 members and three Vets where each obtained a marine medic certificate. A Marine road-show on marine mammals and reptiles was brought over to Malta from the UK to further increase appreciation of the marine ecosystem.

Publications Archipelago : a colour magazine issued every six months, aimed at secondary school children and the general public. Each issue targets one site on the Maltese Islands tackling it from various aspects such as natural, archaeological, folkloristic and other interesting features of the site. Language used: English.

In-Natura : A colour magazine aimed at school children with lots of information on local wildlife and natural history. The whole set includes 18 issues. Language used: Maltese.

Il-Ballottra : A colour magazine aimed at school children with on local and global natural habitats, and various environmental issues. It is issued every four months. Language: Maltese.

Central Mediterranean Naturalist : An annual scientific journal with papers from various scientists. The distribution of this journal is amongst scientists, libraries, local and foreign Universities and other Environmental NGOs. Language used: English.

Il-Kampanja : This is NT newsletter for our members, issued every four months. Language: Maltese and English.

Campaigns

Waste Management Campaign This campaign is presently targeted for school children and youths. It is aimed at creating awareness on the need to keep our countryside clean from illegal dumping and the need of waste minimisation, reusing and recycling. School and youth centre visits are being carried out, with the leaflet Innaqqsu l-Iskart as an important tool.

Ecotourism This campaign is targeted at authorities and people involved in the tourism industry, together with tourists. The main aim is the promotion of our natural heritage as an important source of diversification for the mentioned industry. A tourist guide book with ten selected walk tours has been produced.

Tree Protection This campaign is targeted at the general public and is aimed at stopping vandalism and burning of indigenous trees. Tree regulations for effective legal protection of the indigenous trees have finally been issued after years of lobbying with the concerned authorities. Tree planting activities and public lectures on the importance of trees in our Islands are regular activities.

Fauna Campaign This campaign is targeted mainly at school children. It is aimed to create awareness on the need to protect our fauna some of which are endemic on the Islands. The schools competition of 2002-2003 has been focused on freshwater habitats for emphasis on the frog and the freshwater crab.

Climate Change This is a campaign meant at creating awareness on the need to take action in order to reduce the effects of climate change in the years to come

Other areas Monitoring of development applications on ecologically sensitive areas Lobbying for better environmental legislation Evaluation of EIAs for projects submitted for consideration to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority Management of tree nurseries Following environmental issues in the Mediterranean

Future Projects

•	Upgrading the nursery of indigenous trees. •	Conservation and management of another designated Natura 2000 site Pembroke •	Open a wildlife rehabilitation centre for injured wildlife to be released back in the wild. •	Research on cetacean movements around the Maltese Islands •	Research on Sharks around the Maltese islands

Web site www.naturetrustmalta.org