Ecology
Most of the areas of ecological importance in the Maltese Islands are actually concentrated around the coastal zone, since this is home to a number of important habitats, which include
the clay slope formations
CLAY SLOPE FORMATIONS , hosting the salt steppe communities, made up principally of esparto grass (Lygeum spartum)
ESPARTO GRASS (Lygeum spartum) - Photo by: Daniela Agius ;
a mix of clay, boulders and chalk, which host plants like the golden samphire (Inula crithmoides)
GOLDEN SAMPHIRE (Inula crithmoides)
ridges and cliffs made of chalky limestone, hosting endemic species like the Maltese Salt Tree (Darniella melitensis) and the Maltese Rock-centaury (Palaeocyanus crassifolius)
MALTESE ROCK-CENTAURY - Photo by: Daniela Agius
boulder scree
BOULDER SCREE - Photo by: Sindy Irmscher , filled with Golden Samphire, Sea Samphire and Wolfbane (Periploca angustifolia)
water courses, with plants like the Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus)
sand dunes, features plants like the Sea Daffodil, Sea Samphire and the Sea Holly
Macquis, with a thick cover of shrubs, like the Tree Spurge (Euphorbia dendroides)
TREE SPURGE - Photo by: Rudolf Ragonesi and the endemic Maltese Spurge (Euphorbia meltensis), the evergreen honeysuckle (Lornicera implexa) as well as the occasional tree, like the Sandarac Gum Tree (Tetraclinis articulata)
SANDARAC GUM TREE (Tetraclinis articulata), a type of juniper which forms part of the Cypress family, and which is the national tree of Malta, found in isolated spots in the Maltese Islands, and some places in Morocco and Andalucia.
Garrigue, which make up a large part of the hillsides that have little soil cover. This is dominated by low lying shrubs like the Wild Thyme (Thymus capitatus) and the Mediterranean Heath (Erika multiflora)
MEDITERRANEAN HEATH - Photo by: Daniela Agius
These habitats have been under threat for many years owing to grazing, illegal structures, clearing for agriculture or bird trapping, off roading, fires, trampling and dumping. Such activities need to be regulated and controlled as a first step to habitat restoration. Direct intervention may also be undertaken in highly degraded areas. This may include action to reduce erosion and the planting of species appropriate for the specific habitat.
