Daniel Desira, Segretarju Ġenerali ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ u kandidat ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għall-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Marsaskala qal: “Illum fil-Jum Dinji għall-Għadajjar ikun tajjeb li inħarsu lejn il-Magħluq, sit li minkejja l-importanza ekoloġika u kulturali tiegħu, għal ħafna snin thalla abbandunat, l-ekosistema iddeterjorat u intrema l-iskart ġo fih. Din it-telqa ġabet magħha problema ta’ irwejjaħ, kif ukoll hija ta’ periklu għall-ispeċi endemika tal-bużaqq li jgħix ġewwa din l-għadira.”
“Fuq nota iktar pożittiva, ta’ min ifaħħar ix-xogħol li qed isir minn Nature Trust Malta b’finanzjament pubbliku, li qedgħin jimplementaw pjan t’azzjoni li ilu s-snin jiġbor it-trab. Dan il-pjan t’azzjoni jinvolvi tkabbir tal-Magħluq, djalogu mall-bdiewa tal-madwar sabiex jaddottaw prattiċi iktar sostennibli, kif ukoll konnessjoni tal-għadira mal-baħar. Tajjeb li ngħidu ukoll li r-riserva qegħdha titnaddaf bil-galbu sabiex jiġi preservat il-wirt naturali. Dawn il-miżuri għandhom itaffu l-problemi ambjentali, ir-riħa, kif ukoll jgħinu sabiex it-triq tegħreq inqas malajr meta tagħmel ix-xita. Għandu jkun hemm iktar kooperazzjoni bejn il-Kunsill Lokali, l-NGOs u l-Ministeri konċernati sabiex dan il-pjan t’azzjoni jiġi implimentat b’mod li jkun ta’ ġid għar-residenti.”
“Filwaqt li d-Dipartiment tal-Akwakultura qed jaħdem sabiex jitkattar il-bużaqq, it-tneħħija ta’ alga proposta mill-Kunsill tagħmel ħsara lil popolazzjoni tal-bużaqq peress li din il-ħuta tbejjet ġo l-alga. It-tneħħija tal-alga ma tgħinx biex ittaffi r-riħa. Barra minn hekk, għandu jkun hemm sforz sabiex jiġi ikkontrollat in-numru ta’ papri li intefgħu fil-post, bl-iktar mod etiku u effettiv, minħabba li l-ħmieġ tagħhom iwassal biex tikber iktar alga milli suppost. L-aqwa metodu biex isir dan huwa permezz ta’ kontraċettivi li jitqassmu fl-ikel, flimkien ma` kampanja edukattiva dwar l-ekosistema delikata tas-sit. Għandu jiġi assigurat ukoll li jkun hemm aċċess għar-riserva li ikollu l-inqas impatt possibli fuq is-sit.”
***
Magħluq wetland in Marsaskala – a unique site worth protecting
Daniel Desira Alternattiva Demokratika Żgħażagħ Secretary General and candidate for Marsaskala’s Local Council on the Green ticket said: “Today on World Wetlands Day, it would be worthwhile to have a look at Magħluq, a site that despite its ecological and cultural importance, has been abandoned for many years, whereby the ecosystem has deteriorated and litter has been dumped into it. This has brought a bad smell, as well as endangers the south European toothcarp living in this wetland.”
“On a more positive note, the work being carried out by Nature Trust Malta with public financing, is worth praising, as they are implementing an action plan which has been compiled ages ago. This action plan involves the enlargement of Magħluq, dialog with nearby farmers to adopt more sustainable practices, as well as a better connection between the wetland and the sea. It is also worth mentioning that the reserve is being suitably cleaned up so that natural heritage is preserved. Such measures should alleviate the environmental problems, the smell, as well as help reduce the instances of flooding of the nearby roads when rainy. There should be more cooperation between the Local Council, NGOs and the concerned Ministries so that this action plan is implemented in a way that benefits residents.”
“While the Aquaculture Department is working in order for the toothcarp population to grow, the removal of algae proposed by the Council causes further damage to the toothcarp since this fish lays its eggs in algae, while not improving the situation with smell at all. Moreover, there should be an effort to control the number of ducks introduced abusively in the site through the most ethical and effective method possible, due to the fact that their droppings cause more algae to grow than ideal in this habitat. The best way to do this would be by adding contraceptives to their feed, while educating the public about the delicate ecological balance in this habitat. Access, with minimal impact, to the site should be ensured.”
