Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/776046
43 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2017 LIFE Saving Buskett - Why bother? LIFE Saving Buskett is a project part financed by the European Un- ion Life+ programme being imple- mented by the PARKS Directorate within the Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change. Launched in Au- gust 2014, it will run until May 2018. Dr. Mark Causon explains to us the importance of this project. 'Nature is sometimes taken for granted and undervalued. But peo- ple cannot flourish without the benefits and services our natural environment provides. Nature is a complex, interconnected system. A healthy, properly functioning natu- ral environment is the foundation of sustained economic growth, pros- perting communities and personal wellbeing." (HM Government, 2011) The idea has always been that the environment belongs to everyone and everyone could dispose of it in any way without bearing con- sequences as it carries no price, ig- noring the damage caused to social welfare. However, with urban re- generation speedily taking over the country a growing sentiment has emerged – one of shared responsa- bility highlighting the need of safe- guarding common goods like the site of Buskett Natura 2000. The notions of protection and enjoyment in the case of Buskett can be observed to counteract each other. Naturally, weathering and time have left an impact on the site, but this has also been aggra- vated due to human intervention. One may therefore pose the ques- tion – why safeguard? The answer is complex since the ecosystem benefits produced by the Natura 2000 site carry no direct price. Accessibility to Buskett is not restricted, is free of charge and its overutilization can pose a risk. In addition, its intrinsic value is valued differently from one individual to another, depending on the satisfac- tion each one attains from utilising the resources offered by the site. Given that there is no market to gauge this benefits, it is not possible to directly quantify it. Recreation, emenity values and landscape create serentiy and tran- quility which in turn helps indi- viduals to disconnect from the daily stressful routine. The presence of trees has also been linked to reduce stress and enhance mental health, giving one the opportunity for exer- cise and increased physcial mobility. Benefits such as peace, tranquility and the positive impact nature has on physcial and mental health can- not be accounted for when caluclat- ing the benfits arising from this pro- ject. In spite not being an economic beneift, it is an equally important social benefit given to the commu- nity. What other indirect effects can the general community feel upon completion of the Life Saving Bus- kett Project? On completion of the project the benefits would not just benefit the environment in general but would serve as an educational means es- pecially for those visiting the site on educational tours were the impor- tance of biodiversity, different habi- tats, flora and fauna are explained. With an upgraded natural area like the Buskett project it would encour- age the community to further make use of open areas which are benefi- cial for a better wellbeing. Most individuals visit Buskett for recreational purposes. How- ever, LIFE Saving Buskett Project seeks to highlight other values, such as cultural/ historical/ eco- logical values which are often ig- nored by the general public. How is this being achieved? Also, if not sought or valued why are such val- ues still given importance? The majority of those visiting Bus- kett visit for recreational purposes. However the LIFE Saving Buskett project places high importance on the educational value of the site which brings together the cultural (Mnarja agricultural show), histori- cal applying the same methods of craftsmanship in the restoration of the arch buttresses and the foot- paths, ecological (collection of seeds from onsite which are then planted in Buskett). During the project im- plementation stages, educational tours ranging from tours for stu- dents starting from year 1 up to ter- tiary level have been tailor-made ac- cording to their educational means, educational activities for the elderly and team building events for cor- porate companies employees have been organised to further educate on the ecological, hydrological and historical characteristic of Buskett. Sustainable development is seen as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of fu- ture generations to meet their own needs. Life Saving Buskett seeks to achieve this. Do you think that the Maltese community understands the urgency and sense of respon- sibility one must have towards fu- ture generations? In general, sustainable develop- ment is either misunderstood or misinterpreted according to ones needs or opinions. However the LIFE Saving Buskett project being a project focusing on the restora- tion of a woodland which had been neglected for a number of years, will exemplify that minimal sustain- able interventions can still deliver the end results and the sustainable methods being employed in the res- toration and rehabilitation of the project actions can be replicated in other open areas around the island and /or even replicated in large scale developments where sustainable de- velopment can be integrated in such large scale development. Are you optimistic that this pro- ject might act as a precedent for other similar projects? And if yes, how? In my opinion the project will act as a precedent for similar projects in view of the gained knowledge through the project which has ena- bled the management to identify weaknesses and benefits in the ex- ecution stage of the project. This will serve our directorate to further identify sites which can possibly be suitable for sustainable projects to further embellish our open areas also with in collaboration with lo- cal councils or other entities. As a project LIFE saving Buskett can be considered as one of the major sus- tainable development projects in an ecological sensitive site which can be replicated. Quality building materials open weekend at Philip A. Tabone Leading supplier of quality build- ing materials Philip A. Tabone is hosting an open weekend be- tween the 20th and 22nd January at its newly refurbished premises in Unit No. 2, Qormi Road Luqa.. The first two days will be strictly by invitation and will be open to designers, architects, applica- tors and contractors, while the Sunday event will be open to the public. On Friday, 20th from 10.00 am onwards designers will have the opportunity to meet Andrea Di Matteo from the renowned Ital- ian paints company DiDonato, who will give a presentation on home décor and the correct use of colours in different buildings and developments. In the afternoon Diego Aisa from the renowned supplier of building materials for restoration projects, Kimia, will address an audience made up of Malta's most prominent archi- tects about limestone mortar, an- choring systems. fibre reinforced products FRP, hydraulic lime, an- chorages and adhesive technolo- gies. The Saturday event will follow the same format but with differ- ent audiences. In the morning there will be a live demonstration for applicators highlighting tech- nologies to be used when apply- ing textured paints, which will be presented by Giorgio Foschino also from Di Donato. The late morning session will be open to contractors and will be presented by Paolo Morlino representing the Italian scaffolding and shuttering company Pilosio. Mr Morlino will be talking about aluminum and light weight advanced shuttering as well as ring lock scaffolding systems and jacks. On Sunday the event will be open to the public who will be able to view the wide range of building material products avail- able for the industry Philip A. Ta- bone. These include concrete re- pair solutions, f looring systems, waterproofing products, grouts, sealers and expansion joints amongst others.