Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1379276
14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 JUNE 2021 NEWS AN interactive, informative cen- tre in Buskett will act as a refer- ence point on falconry in Malta and host a rehabilitation and reintroduction programme for birds of prey. Aaron Farrugia, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, ex- plained that the new centre will host technical workshops and educational talks to promote education on our cultural herit- age and biodiversity. The centre, a project by the Malta Falconers Club (MFC) with the support of Ambjent Malta, will provide a hands- on experience to the visitors of Buskett, as well as informa- tion on the ancient practice of falconry and the behaviour of birds of prey. Farrugia said that falcon- ry is nowadays synonymous with nature conservation and management and related ed- ucational issues, as falconry techniques are widely used in conservation and rehabilita- tion of birds of prey - for re- population, reinforcement, or reintroduction. The site will serve to establish a reference site on a nation- al level promoting the historic accounts of the practice of fal- conry and its strong ties to the Maltese islands during the 16th and 17th century. Farrugia spoke of other sus- tainable effects and uses of fal- conry, explaining that it could minimise the negative impacts of certain human activities on natural habitats, leading to less trampling, habitat modification, or the use of pesticides for pest control. ERA had already approved a pest control pilot to be car- ried out in Comino, to assess the possibility of using such a system for the control of pest populations of the islands. This is seen as a more proactive ap- proach rather than the use of chemicals or culling. MFC will also embark on a project to rehabilitate birds of prey and reintroduce different species to the wild. "The club is also involved in pest eradication and control in- itiatives to support flourishing the local flora and fauna for a better ecosystem," MFC Presi- dent Lucas Micallef said. "Most falconers around the globe have at some time been involved in the rehabilitation of sick and injured birds of prey, and eventual reintroduction programmes. By means of di- verse falconry techniques, one will ensure that not only will the birds be able to fly, but they will be fit and able to hunt in- dependently in the wild before being released." New cultural information and rehabilitation