Updated 3.32pm with Nature Trust statement

St Hubert’s Hunters Association has described how late last Saturday afternoon its members worked with the police and officials of the environment authority to identify people who were cutting tree branches in a protected Natura 2000 site for use on a barbeque.

Meanwhile, Nature Trust also referred to weekend vandalism including a major fire at L-Aħrax woodland and called for the setting up of Environment Police. 

St Hubert Hunters said that on the same night of the L-Aħrax blaze on Saturday, its members noted vandals uprooting and chopping protected trees to use for a barbeque at L-Għadira is-Safra, a site managed by the association.

The vandalism was taking place right alongside a sign saying no barbeques are allowed.

The association said its members spent the night on the site with the police and ERA officials collecting evidence and the details of the perpetrators.  The association said it will be sending video footage to the authorities for prosecution purposes. It thanked ERA and the police for their prompt action in apprehending the vandals.  

Trees chopped at L-Għadira s-Safra.

The association said it has been managing the site since January, planting 1,500 trees and bushes, conducting regular voluntary clean-ups and a rat eradication programme. It said the site is open to the public but there is a constant issue of vandalism.  
 
The association referred to government plans to hand the management of L-Aħrax and Miżieb to hunters and urged the government and the authorities to recognize ‘the true guardians of such sites’ by means of a management agreement to ensure more patrols, enforcement and surveillance as well as recognition of the hunters' contribution to the environment.    

Nature Trust calls for Environment Police

Meanwhile, Nature Trust in a statement referred to the fire at l-Aħrax and called for more environmental patrols and monitoring of such sites.  

"It is clear that there is an urgent need in the Maltese Islands for Environmental Police similar to what there is in other EU countries such as in Italy where one finds the Guardia Forestiera that patrol important ecological sites," it said.   

"It is sad to note that while a lot of volunteer time is spent in caring for such sites to be enjoyed by all, irresponsible people still contribute to biodiversity loss in our Islands as was the last case at Aħrax."

Nature Trust urged the government to start putting the environment on its agenda.

"It is about times after decades of neglect that our natural heritage is given protection and attention.  If we want the economy to pick up we must also protect the environment," it said.