Press Release 5 Nov 2013 Nature Trust (Malta) concerned on new proposals for ODZ development Nature Trust (Malta) would like to register its deep concern about the changes being proposed with regard to ODZ development and agrotourism. The new policy, particularly its introduction, requires clarification and allows for a very ambiguous and potentially dangerous interpretation, thus creating loopholes permitting inappropriate development in the countryside. It is an incontrovertible fact that we Maltese have already ravaged most of our countryside, both rural and natural. If we do not reign ourselves in, measures such as this might well destroy the rest, even with the best of intentions. NTM notes that there are lots of instances where farmers are renting out land to speculators on the quiet, and these then do their utmost to build as many structures as they can in order to increase their profit margin, using all sorts of pretexts. The way this proposal is drafted, it will be condoning such behaviour. The ENGO encourages farmers to embrace true agrotourism principles, and believes that to do so they must remain in control of their enterprise, working on the land and carrying out truly sustainable activities. What is indeed worrying is that the draft policy is too vague to allow proper control of development and gives the proposed deciding board a free hand in allowing new developments on virgin agricultural land. This concession violates the essential spirit of agrotourism which seeks a harmonious use of existing natural and rural resources. NTM welcomes all sustainable measures that may be taken to promote agrotourism, and any other initiatives which support local farmers in shifting to the kind of agriculture that protects the natural and cultural resources of the countryside. However any development should not have a larger footprint than that of the existing building, and should only be allowed on land which has already been built upon. The draft proposal speaks of a permitted development of 400 sqr metres for every 60 tumoli of land. Unfortunately it does not specify whether ancillary services such as access roads and parking areas will be considered as forming part of the 400 sqr metre concession, or whether they will necessitate the committal of yet more agricultural land for development. In any case, parking facilities should be reduced to a minimum and concrete paving thereof should be avoided, so as to both safeguard the land and promote the use of collective means of transport such as private buses and mini-vans, with obvious benefits for the reduction of energy use as well as air and noise pollution. Due to the present weakening of the agricultural sector, there are a large number of farms and other rural structures which are abandoned and crying out for maintenance if not total demolition. These may be easily utilised for agrotourism, and their careful restoration would become an attraction in itself provided it is carried out sensitively, in character with the surrounding rural area and landscape. Moreover, sparsely inhabited hamlets around the countryside are also ideally positioned for agrotourism projects, as are traditional houses located on the outskirts of rural villages. Since distances when compared to abroad are negligible, tourists may be accommodated in nearby villages and then ferried over to the site in a few minutes. On account of its necessarily small scale, agrotourism in Malta has to be based on high product quality and uniqueness in order to succeed, and the conservation of land and efficient, wise use of resources should be key measures for attracting the discerning foreign tourist who will not be interested in accomodation facilities which spoil the surroundings. NTM therefore encourages MEPA and all other authorities involved to keep these principles in mind and amend the draft policy accordingly.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:58:11 +0000
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