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

C

1.2 Site code

MT0000037

1.3 Site name

Wied il-Mielaħ u l-Inħawi tal-Madwar

1.4 First Compilation date

2019-09

1.5 Update date


No information provided

1.6 Respondent:

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

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site classified as SPA:2019-09
National legal reference of SPA designation No information provided
Date site proposed as SCI:2019-09
Date site confirmed as SCI: No information provided
Date site designated as SAC: No information provided
National legal reference of SAC designation:Government Notice No. 1397 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:14.220000
Latitude:36.080000

2.2 Area [ha]

65.3100

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
1240  info      25.06  0.00  G  A  B  A  A 
5330  info      2.51  0.00  M  B  C  B  B 
8210  info      2.39  0.00  G  B  B  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.
BA010Calonectris diomedea    r  20  30  p    P  C  B  C  B 
P4083Helichrysum melitense    p  0  0    R  G  B  A  A  B 
P4084Hyoseris frutescens    p  0  0    C  G  A  A  A  A 
BA464Puffinus yelkouan    r  10  20  p    M  C  B  C  B 
  • 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
N2312.00
N2433.00
N0855.00

Total Habitat Cover

100

4.2 Quality and importance

Wied il-Mielaħ situated in the limits of Għarb on the northwestern coast of Gozo and flanked by two other valleys, Wied il-Għasri to the East and Wied ir-Raħeb to the West (both included in this area). This valley system extends more than two kilometres inland and represents a fairly steep-sided formation. The natural arch formed in the limestone cliffs at Wied il-Mielaħ with an elevation of around 20 m is one of the 25 natural arches in the Maltese Islands. The area hosts rich coastal and rupestral ecological communities with important geological, geomorphological and landscaping features. The area is also important for seabirds. The site is characterised with vegetated sea cliffs, valley systems and garrigue with chasmophytes, halophytes and other typical species of harsh abiotic conditions, such as a high level of salt, wind and physiological drought. The habitats found along the area include Halo-chasmophytic Sea Lavender communities characterised by species of the Crithmo-Limonietea that are usually growing on cliff plateau and rocky slopes. Species include annuals and hardy, often succulent shrubs such as the sub-endemic shrub Jacobaea maritima subsp. sicula, Crucianella rupestris, Limbarda crithmoides, the endemic annual Anthemis urvilleana and also the frequent Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum. Halophilous and Thermo-Mediterranean Scrub communities are also present. Vegetation typified by Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Limonium virgatum, the sub-endemic Halimione portulacoides and Euphorbia dendroides also occur. The site consists of Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation typified by a specialised vegetation assemblage, which is characterised by many Maltese endemic species such as Helichrysum melitense, Salsola melitensis, Hyoseris frutescens, Matthiola incana subsp. melitensis and Daucus rupestris. Other species include Hypericum aegypticum and Senecio leucanthemifolius. The stretch between Wied il-Għasri to il-Ponta ta’ San Dimitri hosts around 10 to 20 breeding pairs of Puffinus yelkouan. These birds are migratory but nest mainly in caves, crevices and burrows in coastal cliffs and rocky islets. The cliff faces along this stretch of land provide a favourable habitat for the nesting for this species. Additionally, it is also estimated that around 20 to 30 pairs of Calonectris diomedea nest in the area.

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]
Mb
Mi
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:

 Yes
No, but in preparation
X
No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)


No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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INSPIRE ID:MT.ERA.MT0000037
Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)
 Yes
X
 No

SITE DISPLAY