Farewell to the defenceless Maltese freshwater crab

From the Times of Saturday, 22nd May 2010

Farewell to the defenceless Maltese freshwater crab

George G. Debono, Sliema

A letter about habitat destruction that recently took place in Baħrija (Crab Burrows Crushed Under Concrete, May 18) makes sad reading. As this correspondent describes, blue clay and stone were bulldozed, exposing rare freshwater crabs in their burrows in a valley which is in one of Malta's more important protected areas. This outrage was allowed to proceed in spite of protests.

The defenceless qabru is well on the way to its grave. Thanks to Mepa, yet another of Malta's unique species, the product of millions of years of evolution, faces extinction from destruction of habitat. Yet in the May 13 edition of One World, under the title of Habitats of the Maltese Islands, Mepa piously stated that the "uniqueness of watercourses, including the rarity of a number of species inhabiting them, renders their protection of significance". Given Mepa's gruesome record, this is deceitful spin and it is time Mepa stopped shamelessly treating readers like idiots.

Such posturing by Mepa remains hypocritical as long as developments in sensitive areas continue to destroy the habitat of endangered species, as the one in Baħrija. Maybe Mepa can inform concerned readers how to reconcile its infamous example of destruction of habitat with so many positive statements in Mepa's regular boast column, One World.

Comments

Annalise Falzon(3 hours, 41 minutes ago)

@Chris Reiff. Are you serious?? What a sad comment on World Biodiversity Day!
Here is part of today's statement by Nature Trust: Some small hints which can easily be taken up by all who have nature at heart -
· Do not buy exotic animals. The trade in animals is second only to that of narcotics. If you would like to home an animal please consider all the strays on our streets and in sanctuaries around the island.
· Use indigenous plants in your garden
· Report any illegal activities
· Write letters to the press and to your local councils
· Make sure that the products you use are not endangering species which are on the brink of extinction.
· Organise an awareness activity in your locality.
· convert to organic farming.
· Support sustainable and cruelty free activities
· Join environmental NGOs
· Take all litter back home
· Avoid wasting resources

Anthony Mizzi(4 hours, 11 minutes ago)

MEPA continues to stand out as the perpetuators of crime against the environment within questionable benchmarks of legality, the environment which MEPA is supposed to look after and protect .

The development at Bahrija, approved BY MEPA, which may just result in the extinction of the Qabru belongs to Dr. Victor Scerri ex- President of the Nationalist party, which after a brief convenient spell after his resignation from Party President till the waters cooled down is back in the fold with another post in the High Hierarchy of Gonzipn.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100403/opinion/threatened-protected-animals-3

S Zammit(5 hours, 23 minutes ago)

A very good letter...so true that our little ''defenceless'' friend the Qabru is one of the most threatened species on the island.Somehow nothing is done to really protect it except a lot of bla bla and talk talk.

MEPA qumu mir-raqda...hudu l-azzjoni qabel ikun tard wisq...

Pule' Carmel(6 hours, 17 minutes ago)

All Management and Local Authority in Malta is just one BIG JOKE. and Paroli, and Pozi.

Chris Reiff(8 hours, 9 minutes ago)

While preventing extinction is a good thing, one can not ignore the fact that over 99.9% of all species that ever existed on Earth are extinct, and most died out without human intervention.

Alfred E Baldacchino(8 hours, 44 minutes ago)

As Edward Mallia clearly pointed out it is indeed a pity to see MEPA shooting itself in the foot every time it speaks on the environment. The grass roots within MEPA are genuinely trying hard to instil awareness and protect the environment. But why for example, the 'one world' snippets published by MEPA on the natural habitats and species of the Maltese Islands, though laudable and encouraging, never mentions that most of these are covered by the EU Habitat Directives, where most of the Sites mentioned are all Special Area of Conservation (SAC) with all their obligations. No mention of this at all by MEPA. Why? Not to put salt on the wounds, perhaps?
When one considers that MEPA is the Competent Authority for the EU environment acquis, and as such it is responsible for the protection, monitoring, enforcing and honouring the obligations Malta has to national and international obligations, it is indeed a curse that MEPA is responsible for the environment. But perhaps the change of Minister can give the environment the breath of life, so that it can recover from it local pitiful state, and from the international shame Malta is in

Edward Mallia(10 hours ago)

'Mepa's regular boast column' is an excellent description of the One World feature. Ironically ,today's number celebrates World Biodiversity Day. The freshwater crab gets a look-in at the bottom right hand corner.
The One World number of June 20th 2009, treated us to the gallant efforts of Mepa to preserve our heritage at Ta' Baldu: The site is now inaccessible and invisible from the 'main road'. Mepa has sanctioned the gates and has done nothing to reduce the height of the dry stone walls; at the back, the three country roads coming down from Dingli now have large notices saying Private No Entry, at 200m from the site.
Mepa is still topping 'treating readers like idiots' on the Black Dust Mystery, and on the Delimara extension. The Environment Director
said that he is not considering the separate disposal of the unburnable HFO sludge because he has not received any application from Enemalta. The sludge (1t/day) was mentioned in the EIA, which suggested burning in the Marsa Incinerator. To this the Director replied that Marsa did not have any IPPC permit to burn sludge. Fair enough: but is he going to do anything about it?