Stop rewarding wildlife crime for political convenience, NGOs warn parties

Updated 6.04pm

Proposals to reduce penalties for wildlife-related offences and potentially reinstate hunting licences for convicted offenders would represent “a dangerous step backwards” for environmental protection and rule of law, environmental NGOs have warned.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, 10 environmental organisations said environmental crimes robbed the public of its “shared natural heritage” and undermined efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. 

The warning came just hours before the end of the electoral campaign in Malta, with the two main parties, especially Labour, proposing more concessions and softer penalties for lawbreaking hunters and trappers. 

Without naming political parties directly, the NGOs criticised recent electoral pledges and public statements suggesting that hunters or trappers previously handed lifetime bans by the courts could eventually regain their licences. 

The organisations questioned the message such proposals sent to society, asking whether environmental crimes were ultimately being tolerated and whether political interests were being placed ahead of conservation and law enforcement. 

“Malta needs leadership that upholds the law equally for everyone, not a government that buckles under pressure from those who repeatedly choose to break it,” the statement said. 

The NGOs warned that Malta should be strengthening environmental governance and demonstrating “zero tolerance” towards wildlife crime, rather than weakening deterrents and reducing accountability. 

They added that illegal hunting and trapping continued to damage biodiversity and ecosystems already under severe pressure, noting that Malta had repeatedly faced international scrutiny over environmental enforcement and derogations. 

The groups urged the government to commit itself to biodiversity protection and the proper enforcement of environmental laws, insisting that nature conservation could not continue to be compromised for “political convenience”. 

The statement was signed by BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Għawdix, Malta Rangers Unit, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust Malta, Ramblers Malta and Wirt Għawdex.

Conservation is 'not negotiable'

Another group of NGOs warned the move could reopen doors for offenders and undermines the work for authorities and all those who “genuinely believe laws should mean something”.

“Wildlife crime is not a minor offence,” a joint statement led by Vuċi għall-Annimali said as they urged government to "stop treating conservation, biodiversity, and justice as negotiable."

“Regardless of who is in Government, animals should never be a pawn in politicians’ hands.”

The statement was signed by Angel for Paws, Animal Alliance, Association for Abandoned Animals, CLAWS, CSAF, Island Sanctuary, Debbie’s Little Darlings, Fabio Spiteri, Fostering and Homing Paws, HUH, Kitty Guardian for Strays, Moira Delia, Paws for Cause by Joanna Mallia , RAR Real Animal Rights Foundation, MSPCA, Noah’s Ark, Our Rescues Malta , Vuci Ghall Annimali, Zejtun Stray Cats , Tomasina Cat Sanctuary, H’Attard stray animal support group.