Hunters potential plans for a takeover of Miżieb and L-Aħrax woodlands could be up in the air after Prime Minister Robert Abela and Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia agreed with NGOs that the areas should remain accessible to the public all year round.

A coalition of 60 NGOs published an open letter following a meeting with Abela and Farrugia which said:

“We were pleased that both of you have agreed with us that these sites should be open to the general public all year round, at all times.”

“We are also encouraged by the fact that you understood our concerns, primarily that while hunting can be guaranteed by an agreement between FKNK and Government, the management of the place will remain under the Government’s wing so as to safeguard everyone’s interests and not just that of the FKNK.”

Earlier this year, news emerged that Abela planned to make hunting lobby FKNK responsible for the public woodland areas, formally turning them into hunting reserves during the spring and autumn hunting seasons.

In an hour-long meeting, the four representatives of the coalition outlined their concerns and proposals for the effective management of these sites. They say the state must guarantee open access to everyone at all times of day during the year, enforcement and accountability, and for Ambjent Malta to be granted the management of these sites in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.

The NGOs insisted that the hunting lobby’s poor track record in recent seasons also meant they could not be allowed to manage large swathes of public land almost five times as large as Buskett Gardens.

“Primarily, because FKNK is an entity based on the interest of its own members. Unlike NGOs forming part of this coalition, its mission is not the common good of the country but the leisure of its members

“These areas are veritable meccas of illegalities because the FKNK does not have control of its own members. This track record is bad enough and cannot be rewarded by granting them legal management of the areas,” the NGOs said.

The full open letter can be read here.

Speaking to Lovin Malta, Farrugia described the meeting as “positive”, adding that the government is fully committed to safeguarding the environment.

Spazji Miftuħa is endorsed by:

Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Helwa, Friends of the Earth Malta, Nature Trust Malta, BirdLife Malta, ORCA Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, The Archeological Society of Malta, Ramblers Association, Isles of the Left, Extinction Rebellion Malta, Għaqda Siġar Maltin, Bicycle Advocacy Group, Futur Ambjent Wieħed, Kamra tal-Periti, Noise Abatement Society of Malta, BICREF, Franciscan Friars (OFM) Malta, KSU, Grow 10 Trees, Alleanza Kontra l-Faqar, Azzjoni: Tuna Artna Lura, Releaf, Royal Commonwealth Society: Malta Branch, KNZ, EASA Malta, Volt Malta, Bird Eye View Malta, Transparency Malta, The Malta Dementia Society, Merill Rural Network, Ulster Wildlife, International Spring Orchestra Festival, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Malta Street Sport Association, Aditus Foundation, Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation (MAYA), The Association for Consumer Rights (ACR), Malta Regional Development and Dialogue Foundation (MRDDF), No to Plastic Malta, Clean & Green, Kopin, Association for Justice, Equality & Peace (AJEP), Kamp Emergenza Ambjent (KEA), Time for Change, Malta Producers Association, Wirt iż-Żejtun, Why Not?, Fish for tomorrow, International Tree Foundation, MaltaToday, The Critical Institute, YMCA, YWCA, Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi, Shooting Malta
Malta Creative Collective, Young Progressive Beings, Repubblika, Inizjamed, Sbe Malta and Malta Rock Climbing Club.