LIFE programme - Country Factsheet

MALTA
Overview
Since the launch of the LIFE programme by the European Commission in 1992, a total of 18 projects have been financed in Malta. Of these, two focus on environmental innovation, five on nature conservation, three on information and communication and eight on capacity building. These projects represent a total investment of 16 million, of which 8 million has been contributed by the European Union. This document provides an overview of LIFE in Malta. It showcases success stories and ongoing initiatives, indicates how to find further information on the projects and provides a list of current projects in Annex. Every year a call for project proposals is launched for its three components: Nature and Biodiversity, Environment Policy and Governance, and Information and Communication. You will find more details on all recent LIFE projects in Malta in the annexed lists.

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/) Page 1

Environment Policy and Governance

Maltas first LIFE Environment Policy and Governance project started in September 2011. The LIFE DemoEV project is conducting the first demonstration action on the deployment of electric vehicles (EV) in Malta, distributing a sample of vehicles to selected volunteers. The project is being carried out by the Maltese Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs and will have a duration of about 40 months. The total budget comes to 1.6 million, of which the EU will contribute 35%. A more detailed description of the DemoEV project is presented in the box below. Another project started in July 2013 and will, over a 49 month-period, construct two demonstration green roofs as case-studies: one on the University of Malta's Faculty for the Built Environment campus building and one on a building located on the campus of Fondazione Minoprio (a project partner) in Italy. The roofs will demonstrate the benefits of green roofs in meeting environmental and biodiversity targets and also show that green roof technology is safe and cost efficient, and that it reduces energy consumption thanks to its insulation properties. The project has a total budget of 0.8 million, of which the EU is contributing 50%. The project is being coordinated by the University of Malta.

Demonstration of the feasibility of electric vehicles towards climate change mitigation (DemoEV) LIFE06/ENV/MT/000088
During this LIFE project, volunteer test drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) will be carefully monitored to generate data on the potential for reducing carbon emissions, especially in comparison with standard mobility habits and trends. A key monitoring distinction will be between EVs charged via the electricity grid and EVs charged via photovoltaic (PV) panels. Specifically, the project will: study if carbon neutrality can be achieved by recharging secondgeneration EVs using photovoltaic systems installed on buildings; evaluate the actual environmental efficiency of secondgeneration EVs; seek to convince the target audience to switch to electromobility, as opposed to the standard, highly polluting, conventional-fuel vehicles; and study the environmental and economic efficiency of different methods of recharging secondgeneration EVs. The primary aim of the study will be to evaluate if PV panels installed on buildings can produce enough energy to recharge an electric vehicle and thus create carbon neutral transportation. The study will involve 24 second-generation EVs, distributed among volunteers from private households, commercial delivery companies and government bodies. The selection of the volunteers will ensure that the vehicles will be used for very different purposes. Households will test Class B private cars used for personal transport. Delivery companies will test Class C light-goods vehicles, used for delivering goods to shops in Valletta. The main project result will be a database detailing the daily driving habits of volunteers, and the related carbon impacts, which will be compared with benchmark data obtained during a three-month period prior to the start of the project. The project will be an important demonstration, underpinning EV take-up in Malta. For further information: http://www.mrra.gov.mt/page.aspx?id=187

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Nature and Biodiversity

To date, the LIFE Nature and LIFE Nature and Biodiversity components have co-financed five projects in Malta. This represents a total investment of 8 million, of which 50% has been contributed by the European Union. One completed project managed to reverse the current decline in the Yelkouan shearwater population at Rdum tal-Madonna. The site is a designated SPA and hosts the largest colony of this bird species on the Maltese islands. The project was carried out by BirdLife Malta between September 2006 and June 2010. The project results are presented in the box below. There are four ongoing projects under this component. One is a continuation of the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater project, and uses the roadmap developed by this earlier project to work towards the designation of Marine SPAs for three important bird species, across multiple colonies, through the identification of Marine IBAs (Important Bird Areas, according to BirdLife). Another project will identify relevant marine areas for the loggerhead turtle and the bottlenose dolphin, in order to designate marine SCIs within Malta's 25 nautical mile Exclusive Fishing Zone (established in 1971). A third project is implementing soil stabilisation measures aimed at protecting Annex I habitats in the Buskett-Girgenti Natura 2000 site. The fourth project is addressing a lack of marine habitat data specifically in relation to location, range, conservation status by collecting existing information, surveying marine areas and analysing the data collected. This will help the Maltese authorities to establish the distribution of marine habitats listed in Annex 1 of the Habitat Directive, namely sandbanks, reefs, and submerged and partially submerged sea caves, with the aim of extending existing sites and identifying new sites to be included in the Natura 2000 network. The four ongoing projects have a duration of between 43 and 59 months and are being implemented by an NGO (BirdLIFE Malta) and two national authorities (the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate change - PARK Directorate).

SPA Site and Sea Actions Saving Puffinus yelkouan in Malta (GARNIJA-MALTIJA) LIFE06/NAT/MT/000097
Over the last 25 years, the Yelkouan shearwater - a species of strategic importance at the European level - has been in decline in Malta. The bird is under threat because of premature mortality, loss of breeding habitats and human disturbance at nesting sites. The GARNIJA-MALTIJA LIFE project achieved some significant ecological results that have benefited the sustainability of Maltas Puffinus yelkouan population. Specific outcomes included: improving trends in population sizes of the target species (by 10%) - adult survival rates reached 96% and breeding success increased from 21% to 90%. Other key project actions resulted in: human disturbance at the project site being reduced; NGOs and Government working successfully in partnership; a proposal (roadmap) for the identification and designation of Marine SPAs off the Maltese islands; and increased awareness among the public and decision makers. In overall terms, the project was the first major and positive experience for protecting a rare bird species in Malta. The Management Plan and the After-LIFE Conservation Plan produced by the project represent major assets for the species long term sustainability. For further information: http://www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt/

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Information and Communication

The projects funded under this component disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues, as well as providing training and awareness-raising on the prevention of forest fires. To date, three projects have been been funded under this component in Malta. The main objective of STOP-TRAPPING-MALTA project, which is now completed, was to raise awareness among trappers and among the general public about the ending of the transition period for trapping activities and about the damage trapping causes to wild bird populations. The project started in January 2009 and ended in June 2011. The total budget came to 0.3 million, of which the European Union contributed 50%. The projects results are described in the box below. There are currently two ongoing projects. One project is aiming to achieve behavioural changes that will lead to increased adoption of best practices for water conservation, during the project lifetime, among the target economic sectors. The project is being coordinated by the Malta Business Bureau. The other project aims to communicate to Maltas farmers and livestock breeders their key obligations under the Nitrates Action Plan including the potentially harmful health problems resulting from improper management of manure, and of ways to reduce groundwater contamination. As a result of these initiatives, a reduction in the level of nitrates found in groundwater is expected.

Changing cultural attitudes to Trapping in order to facilitate implementation of the Birds Directive in Malta (BIRD MIGRATION AND TRAPPING) LIFE07/INF/MT/000554
This project made an important contribution to raising awareness in Malta of the damage caused to wild songbirds by trapping, and to changing attitudes and activities in this field. It highlighted the importance of significant communications activities in areas where hunting/trapping pressures are strong and resistance to environmental measures is significant. Although the Maltese Environment and Planning Authority was not comfortable providing contact data on trappers and some stakeholder boycotted the project activities, the beneficiary still managed to meet with 409 trappers. Information was disseminated during face-to-face meetings to these trappers, who represented 9% of those licensed during the transition period. The project successfully produced and disseminated key awareness-raising products, namely: a pocket calendar of wild songbirds; stickers; a TV series of thirteen 40-minute programmes, which was shown on the 2nd most important channel in Malta; an international seminar on trapping of wild songbirds in Malta, which was attended by 75 participants, despite boycotting by certain key stakeholders; and education and information activities about trapping and biodiversity carried out in primary and secondary schools and involving more than 25 000 pupils. The project contributed to achieving the following outcomes: more than 84% of the general public were made aware of the threat represented by the trapping of bird species; around 40% of the general public were made aware that trapping of wild songbirds is forbidden in EU countries; monitoring of 4 787 trapping sites between 2008 and 2010 showed that only 24.8% of the sites were still active or maintained; and the number of licensed trappers fell from 4 616 in 2008 to 2 896 in 2010. For further information: http://www.birdlifemalta.org/trapping/life_project/about_the_project/

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Third countries
At the end of 2006, the LIFE Third Countries component had co-financed eight projects in Malta. These projects represented a total investment of 3.4 million, of which 2.2 million was contributed by the European Union. The projects had wide-ranging themes, including: developing a soil information system for the Maltese Islands; setting up the first coastal nature reserve in Malta; financial support to the Government for an EcoAudit and the preparation of an environmental action plan; setting up a maritime environmental riskmanagement system; evaluation of pollution risk and prevention measures; a pilot air quality monitoring project; and the integrated management of specially protected coastal areas. These projects were implemented by national authorities or NGOs in Malta and had a duration of between 17 and 38 months. The project presented in the box opposite is an example of a successful LIFE Third Countries project in Malta.

Setting up the first coastal nature reserve in Malta (DWEJRA) LIFE03/TCY/MT/000047

The project succeeded in establishing Maltas first coastal nature reserve. The protected area covers some 8 km2 of marine and terrestrial environment which is now managed in a sustainable and controlled manner. In the Maltese context, the experience gained during the LIFE-TCY project has been noted as a particularly useful demonstration of, environmental management work with high numbers of stakeholders and a large geographical area. Planning regulations were also strengthened to control development in the project's 5.5 km2 of terrestrial reserve. Certain structures were made illegal, which was enforced by fines in one instance. Further unregulated developments were banned to improve conservation of the inland sea area at Dwejra. An "Eco-warden" was appointed at the reserve and an environmental education programme launched. This has proved popular with Gozo schools. The legacies generated by LIFE-TCY investments will be sustained by the new five-year management plan, which was prepared during the project. A contract has been signed with the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment to implement the management plan activities. These include promotion of organic farming practices and strengthening of the nature reserves potential for eco-tourism. Longer-term support is anticipated through UNESCO classification. National stakeholders recognise the key role that LIFE-TCY assistance has played in their goal to achieve World Heritage status for the area. For further information: http://www.dwejra.org

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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How to find out more about LIFE and LIFE projects

By surfing on the LIFE website
The LIFE website provides a wealth of information on the LIFE programme: http://ec.europa.eu/life/

By searching on the LIFE projects

For further information on LIFE projects in Malta or LIFE projects in general, please consult the online LIFE projects database. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm The easy-to-use database is the authoritative source of information on all ongoing and closed LIFE projects. The database also provides information on the beneficiaries, their contact details, and the projects websites.

By contacting: The National Contact Point for Malta

Ministry for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change Name: Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Website: Ms. Claire PETRILA VELLA, Assistant Director Millenia Buildings Aldo Moro Street MT - Marsa +356 2292 6231 N/A [email protected] http://www.lifeplus.gov.mt/

The Monitoring Team for Malta

ASTRALE - TIMESIS Via Niccolini 7 I-56017 San Giuliano Terme Tel: +39 050 818800 Fax: +39 050 818801 E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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Recent Environment Policy & Governance projects in Malta

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Demonstration of the feasibility of electric vehicles towards climate change mitigation (DemoEV) Constructing two demonstration green roofs to illustrate the potential of meeting environmental and energy targets (LifeMedGreenRoof)

LIFE10 ENV/MT/000088

http://www.mrra.gov.mt/page.aspx?i d=187

09/2011> 12/2014

LIFE12 ENV/MT/000732

https://www.um.edu.mt/ben/faculty/ the_lifemedgreenroof_project 07/2013> 07/2017

Recent Nature & Biodiversity projects in Malta

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

SPA Site and Sea Actions Saving Puffinus yelkouan in Malta (GARNIJA-MALTIJA) Creating an inventory of Marine IBAs for Puffinus Yelkouan, Calonectris diomedea and Hydrobates pelagicus in Malta (MALTA SEABIRD PROJECT) Conservation Status and potential Sites of Community Interest for Tursiops truncatus and Caretta caretta in Malta (Project MIGRATE) Soil stabilisation measures to protect Annex I habitats in Buskett-Girgenti Natura 2000 site (LIFE SAVING BUSKETT) Life+ Benthic Habitat Research for marine Natura 2000 site designation (LIFE BaAR for N2K)

LIFE06 NAT_MT_000097 LIFE10 NAT_MT_000090

http://www.lifeshearwaterproject.or g.mt http://www.birdlifemalta.org

09/2006 > 06/2010

09/2011 > 06/2016

LIFE11 NAT_MT_000070

http://lifeprojectmigrate.com/

10/2012 > 04/2016

LIFE12 NAT_MT_000182

N/A

07/2013 > 05/2018

LIFE12 NAT_MT_000845

N/A

10/2013 > 06/2017

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

Page 7

Recent Information and Communication projects in Malta

Project Title Project Number Website Click on the icon to read the project summary Project duration

Changing cultural attitudes to Trapping in order to facilitate implementation of the Birds Directive in Malta (STOPTRAPPING-MALTA) Achieving Reduction in Water Consumption by Business in Malta (Investing in Water) Information and communications campaign for the proper use and management of nitrates in agriculture and livestock breeding (InfoNitrates)

LIFE07 INF_MT_000554

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/trappin g/life_project/about_the_project/ 01/2009 > 06/2011

LIFE10 INF_MT_000091 LIFE10 INF_MT_000092

http://www.investinginwater.org 10/2011 > 03/2014 http://www.agric.gov.mt/d_project?1 =1 09/2011 > 12/2013

Recent Third Countries projects in Malta

Project Title Project Number
LIFE03 TCY/MT/000047

Website

Click on the icon to read the project summary

Project duration

Setting up the first coastal nature reserve in Malta (DWEJRA)

http://www.dwejra.org/

04/2004 > 03/2007

Last update: 13/11/13

European Commission, DG Environment LIFE E.3 & E.4 Units (http://ec.europa.eu/life/)

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