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29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 NEWS Comino's hidden plant wealth revealed in landmark study A comprehensive botanical survey of Comino has identified 78 previously unrecorded plant species and two new records for Malta, while warning that mass tourism, invasive species and proposed development are placing severe pressure on the island's fragile ecosystems. James Debono reports A landmark scientific study has revealed that Comino's plant bi- odiversity is far richer than previ- ously documented. The study comes with a timely reminder about environmental threats that could irreversibly al- ter one of Malta's most sensitive natural sites. The research titled The Vascular Flora of the Comino Archipelago published recently in the jour- nal PhytoKeys by botanists Ste- phen Mifsud, Daniel Pavon and Frédéric Médail, is the first full inventory of the island's vascular plant life. Vascular plants are those plants, which have specialised tissues for the transport of water, minerals and food. It combines historical botanical records dating back to the mid- 19th century with extensive field surveys carried out between 2008 and 2025. In total, the study recorded 490 vascular plant species across Comino and Cominotto, includ- ing 21 endemic species and 58 species under strict legal protec- tion. Among the most striking findings were 78 plant species never before recorded on Comi- no, and two species new to the Maltese islands. These include previously un- documented taxa such as Daucus carota subsp. commutatus var. tenuisectus (a wild carrot form, known in Maltese as zunnarija selvaġġa) and Catapodium pauci- florum, a rare grass with no wide- ly used Maltese common name. The study also highlights a strong population of Hornungia pro- cumbens, an uncommon coastal species. 160 plant species lost Despite these discoveries, the researchers also document a wor- rying ecological loss. Around 160 plant species historically record- ed on Comino have not been ob- served for decades and are now considered locally lost. The island's ecological integ- rity is increasingly undermined by intense seasonal tourism, par- ticularly concentrated at the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay. During peak summer months, daily visitor numbers can reach between 10,000 and 12,000, plac- ing extreme pressure on coastal habitats. One of the most affected areas is the sand dune system at Santa Marija Bay, where visitors often bypass protective cordons to sun- bathe directly on fragile dunes. This trampling has led to severe habitat degradation and is be- lieved to have contributed to the disappearance of Euphorbia pep- lis, a rare dune plant now consid- ered extinct on Comino. Beyond visitor pressure, the study raises concerns over pro- posed development projects that could fundamentally change the island's character. These include plans to convert the existing hotel into a luxury resort and proposals to turn bungalows at Santa Marija Bay into privately owned villas. The authors warn that such de- velopments would likely require permanent infrastructure up- grades, including roads, vehicle access and support services, effec- tively transforming Comino into a semi-urbanised settlement. "The proposed conversion of Santa Marija Bay into a small pri- vate residential area, composed of some 16 villas replacing the old hotel's bungalows, would definite- ly increase the risk of urbanisation at this quasi-pristine Natura 2000 site," the authors warn. The research also flags the spread of invasive alien species. The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, known in Maltese as siġra tas-sema) is expanding rap- idly through Wied l-Aħmar valley. Meanwhile, large-scale planting of non-native Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis, known locally as żnu- ber) is altering native garigue hab- itats and displacing endemic plant communities. According to the authors, these pressures are compounded by in- appropriate afforestation schemes that introduce genetically non-lo- cal plant material, further disrupt- ing ecological balance. The study concludes that Comi- no's biodiversity can only be safe- guarded through a coherent, sci- ence-based management strategy. While the researchers recognise that visitor caps introduced in 2025 have helped reduce over- crowding, they stress that strict enforcement, habitat protection and long-term planning are es- sential if the island's remaining "quasi-pristine" ecosystems are to survive. It combines historical botanical records dating back to the mid-19th century with extensive field surveys carried out between 2008 and 2025