Citizens and members of Civil Society and interested groups met earlier this month at Marsalforn, Gozo for a European Parliament Citizen's Forum addressed by MEP Gisela Kallenbach on "Gozo as an Ecological Island".

This is a round-up of the session that draws on the numerous contributions from the floor that characterised the forum:

Firstly, there is no agreed definition of an "Ecological Island" but those present suggested that it involved, in no particular order, the following elements:

1. Renewable Energy sources.

2. Protection of Water resources including its re-use and the efficient capture of rainwater.

3. Soft Tourism, in terms of limited numbers per km2, limited environmental impact, and labour intensive tourist services.

4. Organic Farming.

5. Promotion of Traditional Forms of Employment in agriculture, fisheries etc.

6. Promotion of an Island's Culture and Language.

7. Limiting pollution to the minimum to create an environment which is and which feels healthy.

8. Education of the values that underpin an Ecological Society.

9. Sustainable and low polluting systems of transportation.

10. Conservation of the island's natural habitat and the Biodiversity.

11. Exploitation and refinement of local gastronomy.

12. A general approach geared to creating employment and wealth on the Island.

It was considered that the establishment of an Ecological Island was less one of developing something new than fixing an existing situation.

Citizens also raised, in no particular order, the following issues as challenges to the prospect of turning Gozo into an Ecological Island:

1. The growing tendency to build on virgin land rather than to renovate and use existing properties. Need to financially incentivise re-use of old property.

2. Urban Planning decisions are often inconsistent with the concept of an Ecological Island.

2. A relatively high population density of 400 p/km2.

3. Problems to locate the often ugly infrastructure required for renewable energy (wind farms etc).

4. Turning to Organic Farming might require the whole island going organic. Is this feasible and would local farmers agree. Government Guidance is necessary.

5. Present farming at present relies heavily on the water table that is becoming more saline. What are the alternatives other than energyinefficient desalination? Is the up-grading of the new water treatment plants a solution?

6. Does an Ecological Island create enough employment?

7. Existing tree-pruning practices must be revised.

8. Better use of EU funds including for transportation and the restoration and protection of places of interest.

9. Lack of understanding of light pollution.

The most important point of all though, is that the Government needs to turn their pre-election words into a concrete action plan, and implement such a plan without further delay.

Thus allowing Gozo to finally become an ecological island, instead of just a distant dream.

The present generation would certainly welcome this and for future generations it will become increasingly imperative.