Updated - Adds reaction below by St Hubert Hunters Association describing Birdlife request as 'exremist'  - Allowing hunting and trapping in nature parks is drastically contradictory with their very concept, Birdlife said today.

While welcoming the idea of setting up the Nwadar Nature Park around Żonqor, Birdlife said it noted that hunting and trapping, as well as all other human activity, will be allowed within its boundaries.

As in the case of the Majjistral Nature Park set up by the previous administration, hunting and trapping has been also tolerated simply because the authorities lack "the moral resolve" to comprehend the negative impact of hunting and trapping on the natural environment.

"Nature parks should be living museums where the public can experience and enjoy nature. Hunting and trapping take away nature, and never supplement it. During the hunting seasons very few people will be able to enjoy the park and will be barred from walking freely because of hunting and trapping," BLM said in a statement.

Very few people will be able to enjoy the park and will be barred from walking freely because of hunting and trapping

Birdlife said it was disappointed at the fact that the same mistake made with the Majjistral Nature Park in the past is being repeated.

"Many visitors in the Majjistral nature park complain about the fact that hunting and trapping are rampant, while hunters and trappers object to having visitors walking about. Nwadar can never be a nature park if hunting and trapping is allowed. Birdlife Malta urges the Prime Minister to take the bold step of banning hunting and trapping, so that Ndawar would truly be a nature park."

Yesterday, Environment minister Leo Brincat told a public consultation meeting that hunting and trapping will be allowed at the proposed Nwadar park, as the government “doesn’t want to hinder any hobbies”. He also said that all hobbies would be "regulated to avoid the law of the jungle".

BIRDLIFE DEMAND 'EXTREMIST' 

In a reaction Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU St Hubert Hunters' Association) said that: "Coming after similar calls for a ban throughout the Natura 2000 network and the Majjestral park such condemnable extremist demands are to be expected."

The association pointed out that hunters contribute towards the success of Natura 2000 sites and to the balance attained between hunters' and the public’s needs in Malta’s national parks.

"KSU commend the current and previous administration that acted rationally and dismissed extremism and look forward to the hunter’s enjoyment of our parks no less than any other normal citizen."