What Is A Natura2000 Site And Where Can I Find Them In Malta?
Natura2000 sites are designated areas which are found spread out all across Europe and aim to protect the biodiversity and the habitat of endless species.
It’s recently come to Lovin Malta’s attention that a large number of Maltese citizens do not know what a Natura2000 site even is, or where these can be found in Malta.
We’re about to make things much easier – read on to find out more about Natura2000 sites in Malta, where they can be found, and why this designation is so important to respect.
What is a Natura2000 site?
Natura2000 is a network of core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species and some rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right.
In simpler terms, they are areas which aim to preserve nature and thus prohibit certain activities from taking place within. They are also referred to as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Currently, in the Maltese Islands, there are 34 terrestrial (with some sites being grouped into one) and 18 marine sites that form part of the Natura 2000 network – and these were all approved by the European Commission.
Within a Natura2000 site, a number of activities cannot take place in order to safeguard the habitat and species in the area, such as camping and setting fires. This also depends on the area in question.
The designation of Natura2000 helps its citizens to always have access to pristine and untouched places around their country. But it’s vital that citizens respect these areas.
Natura 2000 Sites in Malta
Where can I find Malta’s Natura2000 sites?
So, now that we’ve got a clearer idea of what a Natura2000 site is, let’s have a look at which areas in Malta have been designated as much.
This listicle was prepared according to information from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).
1. L-inħawi ta’ Għajn Barrani
Situated in Marsalforn, Gozo
2. Il-Maqluba
Situated in the limits of Qrendi
3. L-Għadira s-Safra
Situated in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq
4. Ix-Xagħra tal-Kortin
Situated in Xemxija
5. Għar Dalam
Situated in the limits of Birżebbuġa
6. Iċ-Ċittadella
Gozo’s capital city, situated in Rabat
7. Filfla and surrounding islands
Small island situated off the Western coast of Malta
8. St Paul’s Islands – Selmunett
Situated off the coast of Selmun
9. Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk
Wetlands situated in Marsaxlokk
10. Il-Ballut tal-Wardija
A hamlet situated in St Paul’s Bay
11. Il-Magħluq tal-Baħar ta’ Marsaskala
Situated in Marsaskala
12. Il-Qortin tal-Magun u l-Qortin il-Kbir
Situated in Mellieħa
13. Is-Salini
Situated in the limits of St Paul’s Bay
14. Is-Simar
Situated in the limits of St Pauls’ Bay
15. Comino and surrounding islands (Kemmuna)
Island situated between Malta and Gozo
16. L-Għar tal-lburdan and surrounding area
Situated in Rabat
17. Areas within Pembroke
Covers a whole stretch of garigue land in Pembroke
18. Areas within Dwejra, Gozo
Areas within Dwejra stretching all the way from Ħarrux point to the bay of Xlendi, and the point of San Dimitri to ta’ Ħarrux
19. Buskett and Girgenti
Situated in Rabat, Malta
20. Għadira Nature Reserve
Situated in Mellieħa
21. L-Imġiebaħ u tal-Miġnuna
Situated in the limits of Xemxija and St Paul’s Bay
22. Ramla Bay
Situated in limits of Nadur, Gozo
23. Ramla tat-Torri u l-Irdum tal-Madonna
Situated in Mellieħa
24. Xlendi and Wied tal-Kantra
Part of Gozo’s cliffs, including Dawra tas-Sanap until Tal-Ħajt
25. Għajn Tuffieħa
Includes all of the cliffs, situated in limits of Manikata
26. Ramla ta’ Għajn Tuffieħa until Xaqqa
Situated in Dingli
27. Mixquqa bay until Ċirkewwa
The whole coast stretching from Mixquqa bay to Ċirkewwa on the west of Malta, forming part of Majjistral Park
28. From Xaqqa until Bengħisa point
Situated in the Southern part of Malta
29. Ta’ Ċenċ Cliffs
Situated in Gozo
30. Miżieb
Situated in Xemxija
Next time someone says they don’t know what a Natura2000 area is, send them this article
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