Report 2012
Conservation of Maltas Natural Habitat is the theme for 2012 Blue Flag Environmental Educational Activities. This theme was selected from the RIO+20 Earth summit and the activities organised were in line with global issues highlighted during the summit. Activities were held for people of all ages and school children in all grades. Material was printed before summer in preparatiion for each event planned. All participants had active involvement and many praised the events coordination.
The teachers and the students were very interested and they really enjoyed the outing; very well planned. Thanks, we really need outings like these. On behalf of our school I would like to thank you for the library books you sent with our teachers
Malta Tourism Authority Auberge DItalie Merchants Street Valletta - Malta
Blue Flag
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Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 1. The Backdrop.................................................................................................................................................. 6
Mellieha Bay................................................................................................................................................................ 7 2. Botanic April: Lecture at Valletta ................................................................................................................. 8 3.Botanic April: Walk across the Park ............................................................................................................... 8 4. Nature Photography at the Park .................................................................................................................. 9 5. Salt creations at Mellieha Bay - Ghadira.................................................................................................. 10 6. T Shirt Painting Ghadira Bay ......................................................................................................................... 11 7. Nightlife at the Park ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Golden Bay ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 8. Snorkelling and Underwater Fauna Awareness at Golden Bay ........................................................ 14 9. Golden Sands Hotel Lectures, DVD and Exhibition on Underwater Species ................................. 15 10.Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) ........................................................................................... 16 11.World Environment Day................................................................................................................................ 16 12. Message in a Bottle ...................................................................................................................................... 17 13. Coastal life at Golden Bay ......................................................................................................................... 18 14. Turtle Release and Five Lecture Groups ................................................................................................. 19 15. Exhibition of the Wild Flora of the Maltese Islands ............................................................................... 21 St. Georges Bay ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 16. Deck of Cards: Wild Flora of the Maltese Islands................................................................................. 23 17. School Visit to the Malta Maritime Museum .......................................................................................... 24 18.Visit to Birgu- Historic Maritime City ........................................................................................................... 25 19 . Wild flora and playing cards activity at St. Georges Bay ............................................................... 26 20. T Shirt Painting Pembroke Park St. Georges Bay ................................................................................. 27 22. Waste separation activity at St. Georges Bay..................................................................................... 28 Bugibba Perched Beach....................................................................................................................................... 30 23. Animal Awareness Week : Outing to Funny Farm ............................................................................... 31 24. Bugibba Perched Beach waste separation and litter picking ........................................................ 32 25. Hands in Clay ................................................................................................................................................. 34 26. Villa Bologna Gardens Tour........................................................................................................................ 35 25. Frog Signs Project ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Fond Ghadir .............................................................................................................................................................. 38 26. Snorkelling Fond Ghadir .............................................................................................................................. 39 27.Beach Libraries................................................................................................................................................ 40 28. Public Relations Projects ............................................................................................................................. 41 Blue Flag Environmental Educational Activities 2012 Pauline dingli
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29.Beach News 2012 ........................................................................................................................................... 42 Qawra Point .............................................................................................................................................................. 44 30. Qawra Mask Parade .................................................................................................................................... 45 31. Bird Park Outing Qawra .............................................................................................................................. 46 32. Wasteserve lecture about what and how to separate beach waste .......................................... 47 34. Flora Exhibition for Science in the City, World Tourism Day and Notte Bianca ........................... 48 35. Flowers and Towers - desk calendar 2013 ............................................................................................ 49 36. Flowers and Towers Glass Coasters ..................................................................................................... 49
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S Natural Habitat
Backdrop, two metres high, with the theme selected for 2012
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Introduction
Summer 2012 is celebrating the anniversary of an important milestone towards sustainable tone development. The ratification of Agenda 21 at Rio di Janeiro in 1992 , by several countries, . gave way to the official starting point for each country to commit itself and start measuring the damage that is being caused to the environment. Each country was to set a target date on plan to mitigate the negative environment impact environmental and work towards sustainable growth. RIO + 20 is the Earth Summit being held this summer to estimate the effort of the countries twenty years on. he countries; Conservation of the natural wea wealth was highlighted as a fundamental factor towards a healthy biodiversity. Malta, considered its size, is relatively rich in biodiversity, ecosystems and , habitats, and 2012 Blue Flag projects and activities were carefully selected to complement the global effort. The theme selected forms part of a wider campaign that commenced last year; Care for Nature! This year Blue Flag also celebrates 25 years of the first flying Flag, an idea that had sprouted s , two years earlier with a goal towards cleaner seas. The environmental educational activities for 2012 include several projects. This year Malta included endured high temperatures reaching a heat stress of over 42 degrees celcius and UV rays of 11. Furtheremore, summerschools operated only between 9.00am and 12.00 noon when the 1. sun was at it peak. Many activities were concentrated in the evening, in the shade, or indoors where possible. Instead of 26 activites for four Blue Flag and two Beaches of Quality, the MTA executed 36 projects and events.
1. The Backdrop
The first project was the creation of a backdrop to be assembled during most of the summer irst events and Blue Flag activities. T . The selected theme Conservation of Maltas Natural Habitat, identifies endemic and indigenous flora fauna and marine species that inhabit the Maltese flora, ecies Islands. The rural, pocket beach environment of Gajn Tuffiea surrounded by the rare clay slope habitat is centre to the visual Maltas endemic freshwater crab was selected as the visual. reshwater logo for children to paint. (Visual on page 5)
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Mellieha Bay
Blue Flag
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All the children were given a plate, different coloured salt and animal and fish moulds. plate, Mr. Bonnici, an expert in salt artwork explained the technique and showed simple ways that can produce good results. Some children were proud and happy to take their plates home with them in spite of the warnings that the movement of the bus of may ruin their work.
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Nightlife at the Park was held on Saturday 28th July and 45 persons turned up. The science curator of the National Museum of Natural History, delivered a lecture on bats to those present, guided them near favorite spots for bats and explained as to what they should be listening and seeing. The group was lucky enough to see a few. A special equipment was used to sense their noises and the biologist could identify the noises particular species that they had seen. Many bats, classified under three types of species, were encountered throughout the evening. Many commented that it was a pleasant experience.
Dr. Borg explaining about the sounds that bats make; The sound as monitored by the equipment
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Golden Bay
Beach of Quality Award
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Joslyn Falzon for participating in the Blue Flag Environmental Educational Activities held during 2012 Summer 2012
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The Malta Tourism Authority
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On arrival at ir-Razzett tal-Qasam farm, the invitees could admire a Qasam photgraphic exhibition of wild flora of the Maltese Islands and a display of local produce which included items from organic farming. The Minister addressed the invitees and the press and explained the he investment and acheivments of the government towards the environment in particular the bathing water quality which now stands at the second best amongst all European countries. Certificates were awarded to participants and gifts were given to first and second placings. A deck of cards with the theme Wild Flora of the Maltese Islands, prepared as a Blue Flag project (explained further down) was given to everyone present.
Message engraved on the bottle
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This activity was organised for Blue Flag by the Majjistral Nature and History Park guide, Annalise. She took a group of children with their parents around the park and identified points of interest to the participants. The talk included both flora and fauna as well as birds that nest on the Park. Participants were given printed material to follow up on the talk.
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This year two turtles were released after being healed from their injuries. It is worth noting that another turtle returned to lay its nest in the exact location of the release, two months after. The last turtle that had nested on Malta was some 50 years earlier. Since the release always creates interest in children, it was a good opportunity to nce disseminate information when the children were gathered on the beach after the turtle release.
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The children were grouped and placed away from each other, and lecturers rotated with the groups. Topics discussed included Blue Flag, jellyfish awareness, lifecycle of turtles, wildlife on beaches and marine protected areas.
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Back side of the Playing Cards Wild Flora of the Maltese Islands displaying Maltas National Plant
A deck of cards of the Wild Flora of the Maltese Islands is another project that required significant effort to the last detail. The photos were taken over a long period of time and research was verified by Maltese botanists, linguistics and proof readers readers. The back side of the playing cards display Maltas national plant; The Maltese Rock Centaury, de accompanied by the Blue Flag Logo, the Malta Tourism Authority Logo and the Visitma Visitmalta cross. The front sides of the playing cards display a particular flora species found on Malta, nt with its Maltese name, English name and the botanic name. The Jokers are two species of thistles.
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The playing cards were used for specific flora activities as well as distributed as souveinirs to distributed adults and children. The playing cards were received well by all participants.
Museum guide leading the children around and explaining every detail
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Birgu, is an old historic city that housed the Knight of St John on their arrival in 1530. Grandmasters selected this city as it is a peninsula located in the heart of the Grand Harbour. From within this city they could be close to their fleet of galley galleys and could guard it well from its various vantage points around the coast. The knights built auberges and fortifications that still survive to this day. The city passed through hard times as it was on the forefront of every battle including Wolrd War II.
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Birgu, also named by the Knights as Vittoriosa, is now a beautifully restored city and hosts museums, palaces, churches and a magnificient marina. A group of over 100 . children was invited from two schools. One group started the tour from the main entrance of the city, Couvre Port, while the other group started from the seaward side and was guided in the opposite direction. They met for a short lunch break where MTA awarded book donations to th e schools and to the guide, then they continued on their way.
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Children playing under the jellyfish and under the flowers at Bugibba Water Park
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Villa Bologna is a century old villa with extensive grounds and landscaped gardens. Its owners were happy to host children and to show them around in an organised tour. The children may not appreciate the fine architecture but they were interested in the flowers, herbs, medicinal plants and pets that included chickens, dogs, cats, fish, frogs and others. An array of fountains and running water are also an attraction to the children.
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The frogs signs were designed reader-friendly in animation. They portray a frightened frog being taken in a human hand while screeming for his mother. The sign says; I am not a toy, let me live in the water with my family.
Frog Sign
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Fond Ghadir
Beach of Quality
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The above poster was publicised for a few weeks and on the day a significant number of persons turned up. However the activity had to be cancelled due to jellyfish present on the beach that day. All the work had to be done all over again for another event. The following event at Fond Ghadir was also snorkelling, this time with school children and Sharklab. Sharklab team were prepared with printed material, information, models and samples, snorkels and equipment for the children to enjoy. The children complained that the time that they had, about three hours, was too short. The shark eggs were popular as well as the different sized teeth displayed during the event. The children kept asking for more details.
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27.Beach Libraries
As in previous years the beach libraries were present on every beach as two more beaches received a book cabinet. The most popular books taken were the childrens books. Parents encouraged the children to take books while young teens were often looking for favourite titles.
Fond Ghadir Beach Library
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The Beach Management unit invested in a number of initiatives to create more awareness towards the environment and the Blue Flag project. These initiatives included articles for a local magazine, articles for websites, two radio programmes and TV o programmes every week for five weeks. The choice of media was selected to target different social segments. Topics discussed included: Care for nature, Blue Flag, Butts free beaches, sustainable beach management and information on specific beaches.
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The foldable Beach News magazine was printed this year and left on every beach inside the book cabinets of the beach libraries. People were encouraged to take them and bring them back for re-use instead of disposing them use in the waste bin. Many preferred to keep them for further reference. The Beach News included a list of activities that were to be held, key points tasken from the Beach Code of n Conduct, news about the the new flags acheived for 2012, coastal heritage and finally a map indicating the location of the managed beaches.
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Qawra Point
Blue Flag
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Hundreds of different birds in all sizes and colours can be enjoyed in their natural environment. The owners and carers of the animals call most of the bird and animals by birds name and the animals respond with effectionate gestures.
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32. Wasteserve lecture about what and how to separate beach waste .
Wasteserve Malta representative, Doreen, was this year invited to talk to all beach staff regarding the end product that results from carefully separated waste. She encouraged everyone to treat beach waste as home waste since the system is in place to pro process it properly from the beach to the final product. The presentation that she delivered answered many question that the staff faced in previous years. Doreen also offered them assistance over the phone when they faced difficulties on the beaches.
Wasteserve Malta representative delivering a presentation on waste separation on beaches asteserve
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34. Flora Exhibition for Science in the City, World Tourism Day and Notte Bianca
As part of the World Tourism Day Programme, The Malta Tourism Authority, in The collaboration with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, organised a tree treeplanting ceremony at the Salini Park. Twenty restaurateurs participated by planting pine tree saplings as a symbolic gesture of a long term commitment towards a long-term greener environment.
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To disseminate information on the natural heritage of Malta, the beach unit and the communication unit teamed up to create a desk calendar for next year. It will deal with natural flora and historic towers in rural areas. The calendar will be distributed in d all local and overseas information offices of the Malta Tourism Authority. alta
With the same photos and artwork lines of the desk calendar, a set of glass coasters are being designed. The coasters will be ready for production and distribution by December.
THE END
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