Ghadira s-Safra (Malta) : a threatened coastal wetland with an endangered biota

Abstract

Saline marshlands are rare in Malta and thus the highly specialized flora and fauna found in these areas is rare. This study evaluates the ecological significance of a representative marshland and the anthropogenic pressure to which it is subjected. Ghadira is-Safra is a seasonally flooded marshland in the north-eastern Malta. The marsh usually contains water during the wet season, is easily accessible and is a popular destination for holiday makers. This results in a situation where it is regularly subject to severe anthropogenic disturbance.