An ambitious restoration project is giving new life to the 3,200-square-metre buffer zone outside Simar Nature Reserve. The site, which has always formed part of the reserve and was often plagued by illegal dumping and waste despite numerous clean-ups and efforts by BirdLife Malta, will now become a welcoming extension of the reserve. It will combine habitat restoration with public access.
In 2022, BirdLife Malta applied for funding under the Community Greening Grant Scheme issued by Project Green. This made the long-awaited dream possible. The European Union is financing 75% of the project’s costs. The Maltese Government is covering the rest.
Works underway ahead of autumn opening
Workers are laying new walking paths, installing picnic benches and setting up information panels. They are planting trees, restoring habitats, and creating a brackish-water pond to mirror Simar’s unique wetland ecosystem. From this autumn, the upgraded space will be open to the public daily, free of charge, from morning until evening.
A project of national and international value
Environment Minister Miriam Dalli described the project as a clear example of responsible leadership in the face of climate and biodiversity loss. She stressed that the initiative will provide a safe and accessible green space for around 700 residents living within a ten-minute walk.
European Funds Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi highlighted the importance of European support in protecting high-value natural sites.
BirdLife Malta manages Simar Nature Reserve, which the international community recognises as a Ramsar site and the EU designates as part of the Natura 2000 network. With the buffer zone transformed, visitors will enjoy new green space while learning about the reserve’s ecological importance.
