08/09/2026
A glimpse into Għadira’s conservation history. 🌿
In 1966, BirdLife Malta, then known as the Malta Ornithological Society, called for the creation of a bird sanctuary at Għadira, marking an early step towards protecting this important wetland.
Today, Għadira Nature Reserve remains a haven for wildlife and an important part of Malta’s natural heritage.
Ftit wara l-Indipendenza, il-Gvern Malti beda jfassal Land Development Plan. Fost dawk involuti kien hemm T.E. Sieczkowzki, konsulent fl-ippjanar mibgħut min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti. Fl-1966, il-Malta Ornithological Society ipproponiet il-ħolqien ta’ santwarju għall-għasafar fl-Għadira — sejħa bikrija biex jitħares wieħed mill-ħabitats naturali importanti ta’ Malta. Dan l-iskizz, ippreservat fl-Arkivji Nazzjonali flimkien ma’ nota mħejjija minn Sieczkowzki għall-Gvernatur Ġenerali f’Settembru 1967, jaqbad mument meta l-ippjanar, l-għarfien ambjentali u l-iżvilupp nazzjonali ġew flimkien.
Shortly after Independence, the Maltese Government started drafting a new Land Development Plan. Among those involved was T.E. Sieczkowzki, a planning consultant sent by the United Nations. In 1966, the Malta Ornithological Society proposed the creation of a bird sanctuary at Għadira — an early call to protect one of Malta’s important natural habitats. This sketch, preserved at the National Archives with a note prepared by Sieczkowzki for the Governor-General in September 1967, captures a moment when planning, environmental awareness, and national development came together.
Ref: MT NAM GGO-49/1967
