For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

Back to top

1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

MT0000002

1.3 Site name

L-Inħawi ta' Pembroke

1.4 First Compilation date

2004-04

1.5 Update date

2018-05

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	Environment and Resources Authority
Address:
Email:	natura.2000@era.org.mt

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site proposed as SCI:	2004-04
Date site confirmed as SCI:	2008-03
Date site designated as SAC:	2016-12
National legal reference of SAC designation:	Government Notice No. 1379 of 2016, in accordance with the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations, 2016 (S.L. 549.44)

2. SITE LOCATION

Back to top

2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	14.479200
Latitude:	35.934200

2.2 Area [ha]

96.8000

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
MT00	Malta

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Mediterranean

(100.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Back to top

3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

Annex I Habitat types						Site assessment
Code	PF	NP	Cover [ha]	Cave [number]	Data quality	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Representativity	Relative Surface	Conservation	Global
1240			10.29	0.00	G	B	B	B	B
1410			0.3	0.00	G	C	B	C	C
3170			0.31	0.00	G	B	B	B	B
5410			35.44	0.00	G	B	B	B	B
5420			0.13	0.00	G	C	A	C	C
6220			26.73	0.00	G	B	B	C	C

• PF: for the habitat types that can have a non-priority as well as a priority form (6210, 7130, 9430) enter "X" in the column PF to indicate the priority form.
• NP: in case that a habitat type no longer exists in the site enter: x (optional)
• Cover: decimal values can be entered
• Caves: for habitat types 8310, 8330 (caves) enter the number of caves if estimated surface is not available.
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation)

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
P	4092	Elatine gussonei			p	0	0		R	P	A	C	A	C
P	4106	Orobanche densiflora			p	0	0		P	P	A	C	A	C

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

No information provided

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

Back to top

4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N06	0.31
N23	3.01
N05	10.63
N03	0.31
N09	48.99
N08	36.75
Total Habitat Cover	100.00000000000001

4.2 Quality and importance

Pembroke supports six habitat types under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive of which two are priority habitats – ‘Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea’ and ‘Mediiterranean Temporary Ponds’ - the former habitat type being found throughout the area and is characterised by an assemblage of grasses (namely Brachypodium retusum), composites, leguminous plants and bulbous plants. The mosaic of shallow karstic terrain and deep karren formations at Pembroke has created a blend of garrigue and rocky steppe. The garrigue in Pembroke is co-dominated by Anthyllis hermanniae subsp. melitensis and Thymbra capitata. The latter is an important floristic element of the Maltese Islands, being often a dominant shrub of Maltese garrigues, such as those found at Pembroke. Rocky steppe is dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta and Drimia maritima (= Urginea pancration - listed in the National Red Data book, due to its restricted distribution in the Mediterranean being confined to Malta, Sicily, Corsica and Mallorca). A watercourse is present at Pembroke in the north-easterly direction. Yet, the vegetation found in this area is not characteristic of watercourses. The upper part supports patches of typical garrigue communities, while further downstream the vegetation of the gully bed becomes more herbaceous. Pembroke supports a number of endemic species such as the low-lying species Allium lojaconoi which is not uncommon on rocky ground especially not far from the coast. It is present at Pembroke as one of the largest and best populations. Also important is the Maltese Fleabane, Chiliadenus bocconei, which is abundant in localised patches. It is the commonest of the Maltese endemics and is quite frequent in maritime garrigues. The littoral fringe of the maritime garrigue is characterised by Limbarda crithmoides (= Inula crithmoides), Crithmum maritimum, Crucianella rupestris, and small and very restricted populations of three Limonium spp., two of which are endemic. The phrygana habitat occurs as a mosaic with either labiate garrigue dominated by Thymbra capitata and Teucrium fruticans and/or with andropogonid grass steppes dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta. The Mediterranean salt meadows habitat is very limited in distribution and is confined to only one area in Pembroke. It is dominated by small bushes of Juncus acutus. A very small endangered population of Sarcopoterium spinosum is present at Pembroke as two very small sub-populations. It is characteristic of the Eastern Mediterranean Phrygana and may represent a relict community (strictly protected through national legislation, and listed in the national Red Data Book as an endangered species with a restricted distribution in the Mediterranean and the Maltese Islands), which is unknown from any other locality in Malta. Locally it co-occurs with species characteristic of garrigue communities - such as Thymbra capitata and Teucrium fruticans; Anthyllis hermanniae subsp. melitensis dominated phrygana; and ermes communities dominated by species such as Asphodelus aestivus and Drimia maritima (= Urginea pancration). Areas with shrubs such as the high garrigue appear to provide a habitat for the Mediterranean Chamaeleo chamaeleon, which is protected through national legislation. At least some of the rainwater rockpools that form on the karstland at Pembroke are expected to be important for fauna that are linked to such habitats (for example: fairy shrimps, clam shrimps); further studies are necessary to assess this. Elatine gussonei, an Annex II species of the Habitats Directive, is known from temporary rainwater rockpools at Pembroke. This Pelago-Maltese endemic, being confined to the Maltese Islands and Lampedusa, is listed in the National Red Data Book as rare with a restricted distribution in the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. It is also strictly protected through national legislation. Damasonium bourgaei, has also been reported in the area. This species is locally very rare and is listed in the Red Data Book as vulnerable with a restricted, distribution in the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. The most commonly encountered aquatic flora in rock pools are Ranunculus saniculaefolius and Chara spp. Mentha pulegium and Sedum caeruleum are also present in the majority of cases. Zannichellia melitensis has also been recorded.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

No information provided

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

Back to top No information provided

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

Back to top

6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

Organisation:	Environment and Resources Authority
Address:
Email:	natura.2000@era.org.mt

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

X	Yes	Name: L-Inħawi ta’ Pembroke Link: https://era.org.mt/en/Pages/Natura-2000-Management-Planning.aspx
	No, but in preparation
	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

Back to top

INSPIRE ID:	MT.ERA.MT0000002
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
Yes X No

---

SITE DISPLAY