Malta - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The Maltese archipelago is located in the central Mediterranean and approximately 93 km south of Sicily and 290 km north of the African continent. The archipelago consists of a group of three islands, Malta and the two smaller islands of Gozo and Comino, together with a series of smaller uninhabited islets, which are found scattered around the 271 km long coastline of the islands... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The high population density and the growing demand for natural resources have adversely affected the conservation status of a number of species and habitats alike. The State of the Environment Report for Malta (2005) acknowledged development in rural and marine areas, the introduction of non-native species that may compete with native biodiversity, and the exploitation of wildlife, as the main threats to local biodiversity... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

Adopted in December 2012, Malta's first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2012-2020), entitled "Working Hand-in-Hand with Nature", serves as a policy driver to set the country on the right track to meet its biodiversity and environmental objectives, as identified in Malta's National Environment Policy (2012) and in the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and EU targets... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Malta is currently undertaking various activities that contribute towards the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and implementation of Malta’s NBSAP. Significant progress is noted in the context of awareness and educational events, greater uptake of research projects and use of funds, strengthening of the legal regime affording protection to species, momentum in the implementation of the management planning process for terrestrial protected areas falling under the Natura 2000 Network as well as further designations in the marine environment, and continued mainstreaming of biodiversity in key sectoral policy instruments such as in the field of climate change adaptation and in proposals on spatial planning... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Malta’s NBSAP includes measures that address the need to strengthen and mobilise resources, to address knowledge gaps and to promote capacity building. Efforts aimed at enhancing the legislative framework as part of the better regulation initiative is an ongoing practice. There are a number of ongoing EU co-funded research projects in the marine environment that will generate new knowledge on marine turtles (loggerhead turtle), cetaceans (bottlenose dolphin), seabirds as well as benthic habitats (namely sandbanks, reefs, and submerged or partially submerged sea caves)... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

A review of the implementation of the NBSAP will be undertaken in 2014, 2017 and 2020. The indicators that will be used to assess such progress will be based on national, CBD and EU indicators, including the EU 2010 Biodiversity Baseline. Malta’s NBSAP is a living document, which will continue to evolve on the basis of experiences gained and review results with respect to its targets and actions... More »