Database release:
SDF
NATURA 2000 - STANDARD DATA FORM

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

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1.1 Type

B

1.2 Site code

MT0000011

1.3 Site name

Għar Dalam

1.4 First Compilation date

2006-08

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:2006-08
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

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:14.528800
Latitude:35.837600

2.2 Area [ha]

0.1700

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
MT00Malta

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Mediterranean (100.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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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
      RepresentativityRelative SurfaceConservationGlobal
8310  info      0.07  0.00  G  C  C  B  B 
  • 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
      MinMax  Pop.Con.Iso.Glo.
I4010Armadillidium ghardalamensis    p  0  0    P  P  A  C  A  C 
M1303Rhinolophus hipposideros    p  0  0    P  DD         
  • 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

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class % Cover
N2358.82
N2241.18

Total Habitat Cover

100

Other Site Characteristics

The cave known as Għar Dalam opens at the foot of the slope of the surrounding natural terrain. This cave was formed through the dissolution of limestone by percolating groundwater, creating a large cavity. It runs straight back into the hillside (roughly in an eastward direction), the first part of which is artificially illuminated and open to the public. Further inside the cave, the main passage branches into smaller ones, the longest being blocked by inwashed clay.Semi-fossilized bones of Malta's Pleistocene fauna, were found inside the cave, the oldest dating to about 250,000 years ago.

4.2 Quality and importance

Apart from its archaeological value, the cave and its environs denote a distinctive karst topography in which the landscape is largely shaped by the dissolving action of water on carbonate bedrock (in this case limestone) where drainage has been largely diverted into subterranean routes. The cave is the type locality of the endemic isopod Armadilidium ghardalamensis, which is found in the deepest parts of the Għar Dalam cave (S-SE Malta), at about 100m from the entrance of the cave, in parts where artificial illumination is missing and hence where access is not allowed/possible. Armadilidium ghardalamensis is endemic to the island of Malta, with small populations that are at risk. It is listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive as a priority species.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

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

Negative Impacts
RankThreats and pressures [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]
Lo
Mi
Hi
Mo
Mo
Li
Positive Impacts
RankActivities, management [code]Pollution (optional) [code]inside/outside [i|o|b]

Rank: H = high, M = medium, L = low
Pollution: N = Nitrogen input, P = Phosphor/Phosphate input, A = Acid input/acidification,
T = toxic inorganic chemicals, O = toxic organic chemicals, X = Mixed pollutions
i = inside, o = outside, b = both

4.4 Ownership (optional)


No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)


No information provided

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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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: Għar Dalam
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

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INSPIRE ID:MT.ERA.MT0000011
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
 Yes
X
 No

SITE DISPLAY