VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has officially ratified the Council of Europe’s European Landscape Convention, nearly 25 years after signing it, signaling a major shift in the country’s approach to landscape protection and planning.
The Convention, adopted in 2000, is the first international treaty focused exclusively on the management of all types of landscapes—rural, urban, natural, and even degraded. Its core message is that all landscapes contribute to people’s quality of life, not just scenic or iconic areas.
By ratifying the treaty, Malta commits to recognizing the value of all landscapes in its laws and policies. Authorities must now integrate landscape considerations into planning, agriculture, culture, and education strategies.
A key innovation of the Convention is the involvement of the public in shaping “landscape quality objectives.” This means communities will have a voice in how their environments develop, shifting policy away from expert-only decisions.
Malta’s path to ratification began in 2004 with a national landscape assessment, which identified over half of the country’s territory as highly sensitive. But experts had long flagged insufficient protection for “everyday” and urban fringe landscapes.
In recent years, both the Environment and Resources Authority and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage weighed in on the implications of joining. Discussions included legal adjustments and the recognition of less visible landscapes, such as subterranean heritage.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
