Sustainable rural land management in the Maltese Islands : an evaluation of policy instruments and future needs

Abstract

The structure of the Maltese economy is the founding result of its geographic location and limited natural resources, one of which is the agricultural area. Agriculture is a major land user and despite its limited economic size, Malta’s agriculture provide significant basis of the national consumption pattern. Different authorities and institutional bodies perceived the importance of agriculture, as these have developed policies by which the agricultural sector could be safeguarded from urban development and in encouraging in the reduction of land abandonment. The aim of this article is to analyse past and present policies being the PA structure plan (Land use and development control), CAMP (Integrated Costal Area Management), the Rural Development Plan and the Maltese Code of Good Agricultural Practice. However, it recommends a Sustainable Rural Development Program, which gives an evaluation of the policy needed for the future. Such policy could address the ecological integrity, which should minimize and mitigate adverse environmental impacts, ensuring a sustainable use of agriculture as a resource and conserve and protects the rural landscape and land speculation, amongst others. Finally, this paper concludes by questioning if there should be a more consistent, rationalised, streamlined approach to rural land use management.