Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525069
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 9 AUGUST 2024 OPINION paleontological remains were obliterated in an instant. The lack of efficiency in re- porting this destruction (let alone halting it) was flabber- gasting, but I did find some in- teresting information. First, I was told that the Superintend- ence of Cultural Heritage only monitors for archaeological, not paleontological remains. How can that be? How can our millions-of- years-old past not be as valued and protected as our centu- ries-old past? Is not a 16 million-year-old megaladon tooth just as worth preserving as 1,200 year old Ro- man pottery? (Nothing against Roman pottery—it all should be preserved!) The second thing I learned during those five frustrating hours was that although it was perfectly legal for the bulldozer to destroy the fossils and meg- aladon teeth, it was technically illegal for me to pick it up to save it! Such a law is beyond comprehension—it is far more important for these remains to be saved and the government should empower citizens to find such artefacts and then give them to our Natural His- tory Museums, which I fully intend to do. Perhaps special licenses could even be issued by Heritage Malta for fossil en- thusiasts to collect and return such priceless artefacts. What a benefit to scientific research that would be! Preservation, not destruction, should be the primary focus. Every country on the entire planet has a crucial responsi- bility to preserve, study, and share information regarding ancient fossils. Paleontological remains provide invaluable in- sights into the history of life on Earth and the megalodon teeth and other fossils on Gozo's lit- tle street shed light on marine life from millions of years ago. Such findings help us under- stand how species have evolved and adapted over time and pro- vide insights into past climates and environmental changes. This knowledge is critical in understanding current climate change trends and predicting future ecological shifts. These artefacts are not just curiosities, they are crucial re- cords of the history of life. Destroying them is akin to the burning of the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Library of Alexandria. We must safeguard these fossils and correct the serious lapse in Malta's regulations. Paleontological monitoring, like archaeological monitoring, must be mandated. There also needs to be a clear and easi- ly-accessible reporting system so concerned citizens can eas- ily take action to protect their heritage. The establishment of a dedi- cated hotline and a streamlined reporting system is essential for safeguarding our island's rich historical and scientific legacy—this should cover re- ports of environmental pollu- tion and illegal hunting as well as the protection of our cultur- al, archaeological, and paleon- tological remains. It is high time our nation fulfils its responsibility to its people and the world by taking decisive action to protect the precious few paleontological treasures remaining. Citizens are tired of seeing their beau- tiful landscape, unique her- itage, and ancient past being bulldozed and covered with concrete before their very eyes. Government, please take ac- tion! appeal to preserve paleontological remains