James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Fall 2012 Investigating the compatibility between Natura 2000 site protection and geomorphological landscapes Faye Zammit James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Zammit, Faye, "Investigating the compatibility between Natura 2000 site protection and geomorphological landscapes" (2012). Masters Theses. 374. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/374 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INVESTIGATING THE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN NATURA 2000 SITE PROTECTION AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES Faye Zammit M.Sc. in Sustainable Environmental Resource Management & Integrated Science and Technology October 2012 Approved and recommended for acceptance as a dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Resources Management & Integrated Science and Technology. Special committee directing the dissertation work of Faye Zammit _______________________________________ Dr. Louis. F. Cassar Date _______________________________________ Dr. Elisabeth Conrad Date _______________________________________ Dr. Maria Papadakis Date _______________________________________ Academic Unit Head or Designee Date Received by the Graduate School ____________ Date I INVESTIGATING THE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN NATURA 2000 SITE PROTECTION AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL LANDSCAPES FAYE ZAMMIT A dissertation presented in part fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Resource Management October 2012 Supervisor: Dr. Louis. F. Cassar Co-Supervisors: Ms. Elisabeth Conrad; Dr. Maria Papadakis University of Malta – James Madison University II This research work disclosed in this publication is partly funded by the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (Malta). Operational Programme II – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Training part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund Co-financing rate: 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future III ABSTRACT Natura 2000 was established under the 1992 Habitats Directive as a EU wide network of nature protection areas by ensuring long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. Under the Natura 2000 scheme, there are a total of 32 protection areas in both Malta and Gozo. The different structural properties of the various rock layers results in various characteristic formations which are of ecological importance providing important refuge for many Maltese flora and fauna. In Malta, the different geomorphologic features are mainly a result of tectonic movement in which some are still dynamic and over the years will change. As this change occurs, habitats will change and the biota within will be forced to adapt to this change in the abiotic environment. This may result in a change in distribution patterns of species, as competition for niche space may lead to further changes in the overall make-up of the floral assemblage, which will in-turn have an impact on the fauna that depend on the habitat in question. Such modifications within the terrain, may threaten the status of certain species depending on their adaptation and vulnerability to change. The threats on geomorphology are the key factors in compatibility with ecology protection. The examination of the Natura 2000 sites along with the mapping of the geomorphological features shaping these habitats has shown a link between the two. Through this a series of conclusions and a number of recommendations have been drawn out based on these findings. IV STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY I, the undersigned, declare that the work being presented is authentic and has been carried out under the supervision of Dr.Louis F. Cassar and Ms.Elisabeth Conrad. Faye Zammit V ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to start by extending by deepest gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Louis F. Cassar and co-supervisor Ms. Elisabeth Conrad for their encouragement, guidance and support throughout the entire duration of this course. This dissertation would not have been possible without their assistance. A special word of appreciation is due to Mr. Stephen Conchin for his in-depth assistance in obtained the maps and digitization. I would also like to thank Mr. Alex Camilleri for his assistance in ground-truthing all the caves of Malta. Last but not least, I would like to thank my parents for their patience, support and constant motivation throughout my life and my studies. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0. Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Justification ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Aims and Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Dissertation Outline ......................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Literature Review....................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Conservation .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0.1 Biodiversity................................................................................................................................ 6 2.0.2. Threatened Species .................................................................................................................. 6 2.0.3 Why should biodiversity conservation be a priority? .................................................................. 8 2.0.4. European Union Biodiversity Policies ........................................................................................ 9 2.1. Natura 2000 .................................................................................................................................. 11 2.1.1. The Mediterranean Region ..................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2. Natura 2000 Species in the Mediterranean and Maltese Islands ............................................. 13 2.1.3. Natura 2000 sites and habitats in the Mediterranean Region and Maltese Islands .................. 13 2.2. Management issues in the Mediterranean .................................................................................... 16 2.3. Geomorphology ............................................................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Geodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.2. Geomorphology of the Maltese Islands................................................................................... 20 2.3.3. Wied (valleys) and Rdum (rocky hillslopes) ............................................................................. 21 2.4. Evolution of Landscape .................................................................................................................. 23 2.4.1 Population Density .................................................................................................................. 25 2.4.2.. Clearance of land ................................................................................................................... 25 2.4.3. Dumping sites ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.4.4. Quarrying ............................................................................................................................... 26 2.4.5. Soil erosion ............................................................................................................................. 26 2.5. Geoconservation ........................................................................................................................... 27 2.5.1. Geoconservation in Malta ....................................................................................................... 28 2.5.2.Geoparks ................................................................................................................................. 28 VII 2.5.3. Conservation of Geomorphology in tandem with Conservation of Biodiversity ....................... 31 2.5.4. Results of Conservation .........................................................................................................