Landscape management in the Maltese Islands : the state of implementation of the European Landscape Convention

Abstract

The Maltese archipelago is located in the central Mediterranean Sea, midway between the European and north African shores. The Islands have a total land area of only 316 km2 , but a substantial human population of 405, 611 (National Statistics Office, 2007) inhabitants is superimposed on this physical canvas. The country's present-day landscapes are a product of many factors, both natural and anthropogenic. Geo-tectonic processes in the Mediterranean Basin over time have shaped the geomorphological expression of Maltese landscapes, and influenced the biotopes and associated ecological diversity which the Islands harbour. However, indisputably the biggest agent shaping Maltese landscapes has been the human species. Malta has a long history of human habitation, dating back some 7500 years. The long and varied history of human habitation is of great relevance in discussing Maltese landscapes. The present-day ecological assemblages which are present, for example, are a direct result of human-related trends. The widespread need for firewood in past centuries led to widespread and extensive deforestation; as a result, there are no forests per se in the Maltese Islands today. Similarly, the introduction of the goat led to widespread grazing, and to alteration of floral assemblages. The introduction of alien species likewise led to landscape-scale visual changes that persist to this day.