Isopu: A National Park for Gozo – Martin Galea

From the beginning, the aim of Majjistral Park was to conserve the natural beauty of the area for posterity. As a national park the area is safeguarded from development which seems to encroach every corner of these islands. One must remember that there was a serious proposal to build a golf course there which was only stopped through the concerted efforts of several NGOs. Its secondary aim is to minimise damage from visitors by ensuring the area is properly managed with designated paths, protection of the flora and fauna, and the rehabilitation of the damaged areas by replanting indigenous species and removal of debris and waste dumped in the area. We are currently in talks with the Minister for Environment and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to extend the park boundaries at Majjistral.

Gozo is now under the same development onslaught which Malta has suffered for many years, and whereas once it was possible to believe that the island would retain its natural beauty, recent decisions by the Planning Authority make this a false hope.

Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex has made a concrete proposal to the Authorities for a beautiful corner of Gozo to be given the status and protection of a National Park. Isopu is a pristine landscape in the limits of Nadur. It incorporates a Natura 2000 site, and agricultural land both in use and fallow. It is sited along cliffs (rdum) and is rich in biodiversity (garigue habitat). A detailed proposal has been made to the Minister for Gozo, the Hon Clint Camilleri, as well as to the Environment and Resources Authority. This proposal seems to have been well received and is under consideration. We now will be seeking to present this proposal to the new Minister for the Environment, the Hon Miriam Dalli, who has been a great supporter of Majjistral Park.

As with Majjistral, the central concept is the conservation of the Isopu area. It is not a park in the sense of Ta’ Qali and therefore all interventions are designed to protect the natural beauty of the area, its biodiversity, as well as local stakeholders. The local natural habitat is of high quality. As a result, we propose to limit

Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex and the Heritage Parks Federation are pushing for the proposal of a National Park to ringfence at least this small part of Gozo from the clutches of the developers.

The Ta’ Sopu Nature Park would be fully dedicated to nature conservation and protection and the education of the public, while continuing to be a place for quiet country walks in stunning scenery to regenerate the soul.

interferences with the site by not building any new infrastructure or opening new paths and roads. Our priority is to preserve the site in its original condition through the implementation of conservation activities and to provide long term protection through its designation as a nature park. We strongly believe that we need to create opportunities for people to volunteer in conservation activities, for the public to engage with nature, and to provide educational platforms for the young people. As such, we propose to use Isopu Tower, a knights period tower restored by Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Local Council, as a visitor centre and a location to host educational talks for small groups of people.

The Ta’ Sopu Nature Park would therefore be fully dedicated to nature conservation and protection and the education of the public, while continuing to be a place for quiet country walks in stunning scenery to regenerate the soul.

As with Majjistral, the proposal is for the Heritage Parks Federation (HPF) to manage the park as they have considerable expertise in this area, with a small annual subvention from the government (at Majjistral this is €67k pa). The Heritage Parks Federation is made up of Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust, and the Gaia Foundation. It would report to a supervisory board made up of a chairman and four representatives (normally from the local council, ERA, and others appointed by the minister) and three appointed by the HPF. The Board then reports to ERA as the regulator.

Gozo deserves a national park. Its principal selling point is its rural charm, quiet paced lifestyle and and beautiful countryside— indeed this is how it is marketed both in Malta and abroad. Others, however, have other ideas and it would seem to be a property developers paradise who are eager to speculate and turn lax planning laws to their advantage. The Planning Authority’s stated mission is to ‘Act on behalf of the community to provide a balanced and sustainable environment… and to endeavour to provide a better quality of life for the community through transparent and fair planning services, today and tomorrow’. One could argue whether this is happening in Malta, or indeed in Gozo, but in the meantime Din l-Art Ħelwa Għawdex and the Heritage Parks Federation are pushing for the proposal of a National Park to ringfence at least this small part of Gozo from the clutches of the developers. n

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMON WALLACE

The photos feature Isopu Tower and the surrounding countryside, and a recent visit to the tower by Catherine Leonard, INTO General Secretary, and Emma Thomas, General Manager for the National Trust UK’s Seaton Delaval Hall, together with Stephane Croce, Chairman of the Heritage Park Federation (Gozo), and Martin Galea.

Martin Galea is a Council Member of Din l-Art Ħelwa