Nature Trust Malta (NTM) lately saw another part of its dream for Dwejra's conservation come true as MEPA announced that the Dwejra Heritage Park Action Plan was finally approved. The project started on April 1 last year.
The Dwejra project was made possible after NTM got a LIFE grant from the European Union to set up a terrestrial park and marine protected area for Dwejra. This was a challenge NTM successfully undertook to see to the protection of yet another ecologically important site in the Maltese Islands. MEPA and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Italy) are project partners. This project was selected out of 107 applications.
The initial stages saw NTM carry out various surveys on site, on land and at sea, to update existing reports and to identify the actual state of Dwejra's ecology. Talks were also held with various stakeholders, including locals, the tourism sector, farmers, fishermen, divers and ramblers who make use of the area in some way.
The initial tasks were also taken forward and supported by a steering committee set up by MEPA, made up of representatives of the Ministry for Gozo, San Lawrenz council and NTM through project co-ordinator Vincent Attard.
Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono praised NTM for being the motor behind this project that will bring Dwejra in line with a Natura 2000 site and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There is hard work ahead for the project team for the next six months, to get most of the infrastructural works in place before the end of next June. This will be done to allow NTM, as project co-ordinator, and the Dwejra Steering Committee, to evaluate the results achieved during next summer with regard to the project's financial sustainability, improving the economy for stakeholders operating on this site, value for money for the tourist industry, nature protection and conservation and environmental education.
The next challenge for NTM is to implement the remaining tasks which include the restoration of the dry stone rubble walls along the main road from the San Lawrenz cemetery down to Dwejra Square and the improvement of the square and parking facilities with grass blocks and landscaping.
The project aims to set up a visitors' centre which will house information on the park so that visitors can appreciate the site's importance. This should also serve as promotion of the area to eco-tourists, diving tourists, and environmental education. The Dwejra Tower will also be opened with the co-operation of Din l-Art Helwa which will provide history of the tower and information on the marine protected area by NTM.
The Inland Sea area will be improved through guidelines issued by MEPA and facilities provided for visitors.
The road leading to Dwejra will be upgraded and transport activity organised and managed.
The last stages of the project include a film on Dwejra's ecology and the project results, a Website, leaflets and other informative material and ecology guided walks. The site will also have a qualified ecological warden, like those posted at nature reserves overseas.
Once the project is completed, work on other issues such as quarry activity improvements will also be addressed.
So all the best to NTM for a successful project and best wishes for all other conservation projects it is carrying out for the benefit of our natural heritage. We all look forward to the completion of this project so we can enjoy and appreciate this site.
On the other hand, one cannot but condemn recent acts of vandalism on three of the four LIFE signs set up in the area by the project team. Sadly there are still irresponsible people who do not want to see our natural heritage preserved for the benefit of all.