Title: FAST - Fight Alien Species Transborder project presentation
Date: 1 July 2022
Time: 09:00
Venue: LT 1 – Erin Serracino Inglott Hall, University of Malta, Msida campus
A per the INTERREG V-A ITALIA-MALTA 2014-2020 framework , an event will take place on 1 July 2022 for the presentation of the project: FAST - Fight Alien Species Transborder. During this event, the project partners will present the work carried out within the frame of the project.
The project is in line with the strategy of the European Union, addressing the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of the ecosystem services, as well as their restoration, within the possible limits, on the Union’s territory. Biological invasions are currently the second most important factor that threatens biodiversity, one of the objectives of this project is precisely to fight against such accidental introductions, the naturalisation of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and harmful plant pathogens to indigenous plants.
It is more evident than ever before that the issue of IAS is to be dealt with on a large scale and using common methodologies over the transboundary zones. This is of particular relevance to facilitating the exchange of information within connected territories and requires prompt and urgent actions.
The FAST project counteracts the introduction, naturalisation and spread of alien invasive species that damage biodiversity in Sicily and the Maltese archipelago using:
- Their recognition and classification within the priority scale
- Their control and/or eradication
- The identification and management of pathways and the means of introduction and diffusion
- The data processing of guidelines and adoption of best practices, based also on
- Education and environmental communication.
Actions for the control/eradication and restoration are taking place within the protected areas of the Natura 2000 network:
- Simeto oasis (Managing Institution: Metropolitan City of Catania)
- Fiumefreddo (Managing Institution: Metropolitan City of Catania)
- Forest Macchia of Irminio River (Managing Institution: Free Ragusa Consortium)
- Vittoria’s Pine Forest (Managing Institution: Free Ragusa Consortium)
- L-Inħawi tal-Buskett u tal-Girgenti; (Managing Institution: Ambjent Malta)
- L-Inħawi tax-Xlendi u tà Wied Kantra (Managing Institution: EcoGozo)
- Il-Magħluq ta' Marsaskala (Managing Institution: Nature Trust Malta)
This event will be addressed by Prof. Joseph Cacciatolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of Malta, and Prof. Giorgio Sabella from the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Università di Catania, who is the lead partner. The involvement and actions that will take place by the other partners will be addressed by the corresponding scientific heads of the various institutions: Prof. David Mifsud, Project Manager for FAST for the University of Malta, (Institute of Earth Systems), Mr Sharlo Camilleri, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights. Mr Gaetano Torrisi, Director, Città Metropolitana di Catania, “Gestione Riserve Naturali”, Ms Maria Di Maio, Director, Libero Consorzio Comunale di Ragusa, (Pianificazione Territoriale e Sviluppo Locale - Riserve Naturali) and Mr Darrin Stevens, Deputy Director of Environment & Resources Authority.
This event is open to everyone. To register, please click . For information and updates on the event and the project, you can visit the project , or .
The results of the project will be presented by Prof. Oscar Lisi, Prof. Pietro Minissale and Prof. Vera d’Urso (Università di Catania), Mr Gaetano Torrisi (Città Metropolitana di Catania), Ms Maria Di Maio (Libero Consorzio Comunale di Ragusa), Mr Immanuel Grima (Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights) and Ms Simone Cutajar, Mr Stephen Mifsud, Mr Thomas Cassar and Mr Arthur Lamoliere (University of Malta).
