Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Dear Birders: Please email the sample letter below to European Commissioner for the Environment Dr. Stavoras Dimas. Please feel free to compose one of your own or just copy and paste and email TO: stavros.dimas and CC:ghawdex40,arnold.cassola Time of the essence! IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE E-MAILS REACH Dr. DIMAS EARLIER THIS WEEK! Since Dr. Arnold Cassola Secretary General of the EU Green party is holding a specific meeting with Dr. Dimas concerning Ta' Cenc. ----------------copy and paste from here-------------- Ta'Cenc Special Protected Area Status? TO: stavros.dimas CC:ghawdex40,arnold.cassola Dear Dr. Stavoras Dimas, The Ta’Cenc cliff area of Malta is an important bird habitat site for various species such as the scarce Spectacled Warbler, the Corn Bunting, and the Blue Rock Thrush and has one of the most impressive colonies of Cory’s Shearwater in the Maltese islands and the Mediterranean and 150 pairs of Yelkouan Shearwater, both protected species under the EU's Birds Directive. There is a small colony of the otherwise elusive Storm Petrel. It is also a breeding site for the Peregrine Falcon (The famous Malta’s namesake the Maltese Falcon), barn owl and common kestrel. This unique cliff area is an important bird habitat for the whole region of the Mediterranean. Ta' Cenc is also of archaeological, ecological, historical, geological, and geomorphologic importance. This site not only includes the l-Imramma Neolithic Temple, the pre-historic cart ruts, but also is world famous for its spectacular cliffs that are the natural home of several wildlife species both flora and fauna. Ta’ Cenc offers interesting biodiversity garigue and rupestral habitats with several rare and endemic species such as the Maltese rock centaury (Widnet il-Bahar, Malta's national plant). I would like to ask for your intervention so that the Maltese Government in particular the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) to finally take a clear cut decision to appreciate the Ta' Cenc as an area of outstanding natural beauty, ecological value and archaeological importance. This site must be included as a Special Protected Area Status, forming part of the Natura 2000 networks and not let this area be developed with hotels, golf courses and residential villas for the wealthy few and excludes the hundreds of thousands of local population and birders alike. If any further development were allowed this would destroy the biodiversity of the site and would be lost forever to our EU citizens enjoyment and the world. Thank you for your attention, Yours truly, Sign your name and address. ---------------------------to here----------------------- Photo:-The impressive cliffs at Ta' Cenc. http://timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=183780 & hilite=cliffs MALTESE GOVERNMENT EXCLUDES TA' CENC FROM PROTECTED DESIGNATED AREAS LIST The Maltese Government has not included in its lists to the European Union the Ta' Cenc site as a special protected area designated under the " Wild Birds Directive " and the " Habitats Directive " . This has been confirmed by EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in his letter to Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) Spokesperson for Gozo, Mr. Victor Galea. The AD Gozo Regional Committee wrote directly to the EU Environmental Policies and Priorities Commissioner Stavros Dimas earlier this year in order to request the Maltese Government in particular the MEPA in explaining to the general public their decision in not bestowing the ecological, historical, geological, archaeological and geomorphologic importance of Ta' Cenc with Special Protected Area Status, thereby excluding the latter from forming part of the Natura 2000 networks, when all reports conducted on this area by independent bodies such as the University of Malta and other universities in the EU and worldwide have suggested otherwise. Mr. Galea said: " It is absolutely unacceptable that the Ta' Cenc site, home to various birds, endemic species and historical remains, has not been included in the list. Ta' Cenc is a place of unique importance, not only because of its special bio-diversity but also because the natural beauty of the place -with its unique diversity- is a source of attraction for Maltese and foreign tourists and thus a source of much needed income for the Maltese economy " . In his comments Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD Spokesperson on EU affairs and Secretary General of the European Green Party, said: " The behaviour of the Maltese government is irresponsible. The message sent out is that the Maltese government does not care about safeguarding Gozo's unique heritage. I shall try to raise the issue of Ta' Cenc directly with Commissioner Dimas, who has promised that should the Commission services identify the need to designate further sites in the Maltese archipelago, the Commission will raise the issue with the Maltese authorities " . -- Call for Ta' Cenc to be protected http://timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=183780 & hilite=cliffs Photo:-The impressive cliffs at Ta' Cenc. BirdLife Malta is seriously concerned at what is says is the increasing threat of new and extensive development at Ta' Cenc in Gozo and has appealed to the authorities to give urgent protection to this ecologically important site. The environmental organisation said the proposed developments include extensions of a hotel, residential areas as well as a golf course. It described Ta' Cenc as an area of outstanding natural beauty, ecological value and archaeological importance, saying it would be a major loss for the Maltese if any further development were allowed because this would impoverish the biodiversity of the site. The cliffs boast the highest sheer drop of any cliffs on the islands, reaching an altitude of 135 metres above sea level. According to EU criteria, Ta' Cenc figures as one of 12 important bird areas that should be afforded special protection. It has a large breeding colony of Cory's Shearwaters, numbering about 1,000 pairs, and over 150 pairs of Yelkouan Shearwater, both protected species under the EU's Birds Directive. The cliffs hold a small colony of Storm Petrels and eight to 10 breeding pairs of Malta's national bird, the Blue Rock Thrush (Merill). It is also a breeding site for Peregrine Falcon, barn owl and common kestrel. Furthermore, it holds a unique flora with several endemic plants that include the Maltese rock centaury (Widnet il-Bahar), Malta's national plant. The garigue habitat is also important, both from a botanical aspect as well as for its avifauna, being one of the remaining breeding areas for Short-toed Lark, Spectacled Warbler and Corn Bunting, among other species. The garigue is frequented by numerous species of migratory and wintering birds. Only a small part of Ta' Cenc is a protected area where no hunting or trapping is allowed, BirdLife said. The whole area including the cliffs and the surrounding garigue areas should be protected as a national nature reserve due to its outstanding ecological value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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