Written by Sara Marston
Malta is certainly no stranger to controversial agreements, especially to those that take place surreptitiously. What happened on the 9th of October 2020, is a testament to this.
Ignoring the public’s cries, four ministers from Robert Abela’s cabinet – namely Ian Borg, Aaron Farrugia, Chris Agius, and Clint Camilleri – signed an agreement that sees the Lands Authority handing over the two biggest Maltese wooded areas to the FKNK hunting fraternity, i.e. Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti.
When suggested earlier on in the year, this same proposal was strongly opposed by several environmental and cultural NGOs that firmly recognised that placing Malta’s biggest woodlands under the management of the hunting lobby that’s been the source of controversy for years would be a colossal environmental injustice. This is why the initial release of the news immediately provoked extensive outrage. The deal lacked transparency and it became apparent that Mizieb and Ahrax, the two woodlands in question which happen to be five times larger than Buskett, were about to be exchanged for the mere price of two hundred euros each. And for what, you might ask? The one thing that all power-hungry individuals revere. Political gain.
As the public, we felt, and still feel betrayed – and rightfully so.
FKNK has full jurisdiction over which areas of Mizieb and Ahrax, two supposedly public green areas I might add, are accessible to the public during hunting season. This means that we are to be restricted access six and a half months out of the entire year. FKNK also has the authority to decide which areas are designated as picnic areas. In a public statement, FKNK expressed in a predictable manner that nothing will change, but here’s the simple math: If we are only allowed to enter Mizieb and Ahrax five months and a half out of twelve and when doing so, be restricted to as much as three, small designated picnic areas, then no, nothing will be the same.
Why weren’t the Mellieha and St.Paul’s Bay local councils approached about this agreement long before it was to be signed? This is not the action of a democratic country. By not being fully transparent with the local councils, as well as the residents residing in these localities, the authorities involved in the making of this agreement shouldn’t be so surprised by the backlash they have received since the news was made public. They must have shivered at the thought of herds of angry people gathering and protesting as they signed away our environment as though it’s a toy that could be bought. The simple fact that the signing was moved up by two days and took place behind closed doors, against our knowledge and away from the media’s gaze, proves that we are right.
FKNK has illegally claimed Miżieb and Ahrax as their hunting grounds for years.
Now they need to claim so no more as these two woodlands were officially gifted to them to be their legal hunting ground all-year-round. It is as if though the Government flicked a switch and so easily forgot of FKNK’s illegalities over the years: how they have illegally shot down protected birds, how they have restricted access to the public before, how they rarely properly dispose of shotgun cartridges, leaving them to accumulate, and how they have set up signs and structures without legal permits.
They have continuously and indirectly expressed their dismissal for the natural environment. If this has been the case all along, there is no guarantee that anything will be different this time round. There is no assurance that the biggest green areas in Malta – and Malta isn’t exactly brimming with green – are in safe and secure hands.
Last year, 180,000 square metres of the Miżieb woodlands were engulfed by fires, and thousands of trees were destroyed. Miżieb consists of several Aleppo Pines which are intermixed with invasive alien species, making them highly flammable. If FKNK does not implement concrete management regulations, there is reason to believe that not only will these fires become more frequent due to loose regulations, but more protected birds will likely be shot down.
It has not stopped them before, and there is certainly nothing stopping them now.
The Maltese environment as well as our cultural heritage have been incessantly disrespected and abused. Public land ought to stay public – for the enjoyment of all. No amount of money or votes will ever equate in importance to our environment.
Daphne Caruana Galizia once said, “where environmental damage is greatest, so is corruption”. It’s time for everyone to heed these words. The fight is far from over.
