The financial sustainability of a number of Natura 2000 sites in Malta

Abstract

Protected areas are considered the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation and in Europe, the Natura 2000 network covers approximately 20% of its territory. However, despite a global increase in the number of protected areas, there has been a documented lack of funding to enable effective management. This study aims to assess the financial feasibility of Natura 2000 sites in Malta, focusing on two case studies. Through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, present and potential future costs and income sources were identified. Potential innovative measures to enhance financial feasibility were also discussed, with these including imposition of user fees, the provision of concessions, the provision of new activities and services within protected areas and an increase in protected area size. Results seem to indicate that while present-day financial feasibility is in doubt, this could be substantially enhanced by drawing on a diverse range of sources of income. Currently, the mainstay of income generated comes from national government, private sponsorship and project based funding from the E.U., with the latter tending to be bureaucratic and involving co-funding requirements. Protected area management culture requires a paradigm change along the lines of private enterprise, becoming more business oriented and profit based, with any exploitation of the site for profit being carried out against payment. Cultural changes within society are further needed to introduce the concept of payment for activities/uses currently assumed to be free. Some concerns that could impact financial feasibility that were highlighted during the study included present day lack of enforcement within protected areas, sectoral management of these areas, and stakeholder involvement/conflict issues.