GozoNews.Com

The environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, Nature Trust Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, Malta Ramblers Association , Gaia Foundation and Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, have all voiced their concern over the current hunting situation.

They have said that they deplore the way that the two main political parties still give in to demands from hunters and trappers despite their continuous statements that they cared for the environment.

Birds were part of the natural environment, the NGOs said, and by right they deserved full protection. Spring is the season when birds migrate to breed, the more birds that are killed during this season the higher the risk that their population will decline.

The NGOs went on to say that the two main political parties were still trying to gain electoral advantage by making promises to hunters before every election. The NGOs believed that with such promises the parties were only proving that they were selling their environmental credentials, despite their statements in favour of the environment.

The NGOs urged all the political parties to unite on environmental issues since the environment was a national issue and not a partisan one.

They added that enforcement of the law was very poor and had to be improved, also despite promises made in the past by the authorities, regulations could not be adequately enforced without providing sufficient human resources to do so.

The NGOs also condemned the actions of the ORNIS committee, which they said was only serving as a political arm, rather than operating within the terms of reference under which it was set up.