This week we celebrate life on Earth with both Natura 2000 Day, dedicated to the EU network of protected areas, and the International Day of Biodiversity. We celebrate nature in its full diversity of species and ecosystems and all the complex interactions therein. Let us not forget that biodiversity is central to all life on Earth and its conservation goes hand in hand with protecting habitats and ecological corridors.

The theme of this year’s International Day of Biodiversity is “Harmony with nature and sustainable development” and our attention is very much directed towards the Natura 2000 site of Kemmuna u l-Gżejjer ta’ Madwarha (Comino and its surrounding islets) – currently a protected area which suffers from intense human pressure – set to increase as the controversial tourist hotel development takes shape while there is still no published data related to carrying capacity studies. Comino is especially close to our hearts as our work is focusing on various projects related to increased awareness and conservation of its unique environmental heritage: these include Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna, ProCoast, Ditch the Waste Comino and others which are in the pipeline.

Aside from countless cleanups held by volunteers over the years and the ongoing restoration works at Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna, we also organised various citizen science initiatives to increase data on biodiversity by observing and recording various forms of life encountered while walking. Despite the onset of the hot, dry season we still photographed close to 40 different species in a small area during a brief site visit earlier this month using the iNATURALIST App (Link: Wild Kemmuna · iNaturalist ) and simultaneously contributed to the Wild for Orchids Citizen Science project (Link: Facebook). We  encourage any visitors to Comino to use both the iNaturalist App and the Obsidentify App (ObsIdentify – Apps – Observations.be ) to take part in these initiatives. We are also calling on all visitors (local or not) to Comino to help us by responding to this survey as part of a project to increase awareness for the need of protection of Comino’s biodiversity: Have Your Say: Shaping the Future of Comino with PRO-COAST – Friends Of the Earth Malta 

Co-funded by the European Union