Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1017392
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 AUGUST 2018 BIRDLIFE hopes to attract birds and flamingos to nest at the Salina salt pans after the organisation was entrusted with the management of the nature reserve for the next five years. The salt pans and surround- ing land were transferred to the bird conservation group by the government, during a signing ceremony held today. BirdLife aims to attract vis- itors to the site from where they can observe birds in their natu-ral habitat, or- ganisation president Daryl Grima said. The area can also provide a safe nesting environment for birds and flamingos while they are in Malta, Grima added. Transport Minister Ian Borg and Environment Min- ister Jose Herrera presided over the Sa-lina management agreement with BirdLife. The organisation will oper- ate and manage the nature reserve and restore the area with resources and financial help from the government. Grima said that this was a more meaningful project af- ter recent events that saw fla- mingos and storks being shot while stopping over to rest in Malta. "We look forward to seeing the area enhanced with more trees, birds nesting and en- joying the area, as well as the production of salt from the saltpans," Grima said. "We live in a small country, with a small population and it is our duty to preserve such areas and see them reach their full potential." The project will serve as a tourist attraction and educa- tional centre and become a place of national importance, Grima noted. BirdLife gains control of Salina nature reserve for next five years The Salina nature reserve and salt pans will be restored, serving as an education centre and a safe environment for birds in a five- year agreement with BirdLife Elderly man drowns at Armier A 76-year-old British man has drowned while swimming in Armier Bay in Mellieha, the police have said. In a statement the police said it had been alerted to an accident at Armier Bay at roughly 11:45am. It said that from preliminary investigations, it appeared that the man in question had encountered difficulty while swimming. A medical team was dis- patched from Mater Dei Hospital that took the man to hospital for treatment. He was certified dead shortly af- ter arriving at Mater Dei. Police investigations and a magisterial inquiry is under- way. Chronic pain sufferer fined for bringing cannabis stash to Malta A cruise passenger has been fined after bringing his stash of medical cannabis to Malta with him. 54-year-old Fernando Torne Sanz of Barcelona, Spain, ap- peared before magistrate Dona- tella Frendo Dimech this morn- ing, accused of importation and possession of cannabis. Inspector Alfredo Mangion explained that the man had told him that his Cannabis was legal and pre-scribed to him for relief of chronic pain. He had been on a cruise and forgot to leave his cannabis in his cab-in, the court was told. The police said that it had been established that the 18.2 grams of the drug were for the man's personal use. Sanz, who appeared in court leaning on a walking stick, pleaded guilty. Legal aid lawyer Noel Bartolo ar-gued that a pe- cuniary penalty would be fitting in the circumstances as the man had already missed his cruise. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech imposed a fine of €800 and ordered the destruction of the drugs. Aerial view of the Salina nature reserve •Photo by James Bianchi The visitors' centre at the Salina nature reserve