Environmental crimes rob the public of its shared natural heritage and undermine the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems that belong to all of society. Proposals to reduce penalties for wildlife-related offences and allow individuals previously banned from hunting or trapping to potentially regain their licences represent a dangerous step backwards for environmental protection and the rule of law in Malta.
What message does this send?
That environmental crimes are ultimately tolerated? That persistent breaches of conservation laws can eventually be overlooked? That political interests take precedence over the protection of nature, biodiversity, and effective enforcement?
Particularly concerning are public statements and implications made by political figures suggesting that individuals who were handed lifetime hunting bans by the courts could somehow see these sentences reversed. Such an approach is not only unfair to the rest of society, which expects laws and court judgments to be respected, but also represents a deeply troubling attitude towards the rule of law and democratic governance.
Malta needs leadership that upholds the law equally for everyone, not a government that buckles under pressure from those who repeatedly choose to break it.
At a time when Malta should be strengthening environmental governance and demonstrating zero tolerance towards wildlife crime, discussions are instead moving in the direction of weakening deterrents and diminishing accountability.
This risks undermining years of work carried out by environmental authorities, NGOs, activists, scientists, and citizens committed to protecting Malta’s natural heritage.
Wildlife crime is not a trivial matter. Illegal hunting and trapping directly impact biodiversity and damage ecosystems already under severe pressure. Malta has repeatedly faced international scrutiny over environmental enforcement and derogations, making it even more important to uphold strong and credible legal protections.
Nature and environmental protection cannot continue to be compromised for political convenience.
We urge Government to commit to conservation, biodiversity protection, and the proper enforcement of environmental laws, rather than treating them as negotiable.
BirdLife Malta
Din l-Art Ħelwa
Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar
Friends of the Earth
Għawdix
Malta Ranger Unit
Moviment Graffitti
Nature Trust Malta
Ramblers Malta
Wirt Għawdex
Read the joint press statement in Maltese.