Between 2021 and 2023, Malta’s Conservation of Wild Birds Fund awarded a combined €182,091.20 to 10 projects spearheaded by voluntary organisations, aiming to safeguard and study the island’s bird populations. While the financial support reflects a growing commitment to biodiversity, the repeated inclusion of hunting organizations among beneficiaries has sparked controversy.
Top recipients include BirdLife Malta (BLM), Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK), and Kaċċaturi San Ubertu (KSU). Funded projects ranged from scientific research on short-eared owls and Mediterranean gulls to educational campaigns and captive-breeding programs for species such as the barn owl and turtle dove.
Notably, FKNK secured funding for multiple phases of both barn owl reintroduction and turtle dove breeding, receiving nearly €60,000 across both calls. KSU, also a pro-hunting organisation, received €27,948 for greening and school-focused initiatives. Meanwhile, BirdLife Malta’s data-driven research received just over €54,000.
Environmentalists have questioned the alignment of conservation funds with organisations also involved in lobbying for hunting rights. BirdLife Malta, in particular, has consistently warned against the spring hunting of vulnerable species like the turtle dove, citing scientific concerns and declining populations.
Despite differing ideologies, all funded projects claim to advance bird conservation. The challenge ahead lies not only in the execution of these initiatives but in ensuring transparency and public trust in the entities tasked with preserving Malta’s natural heritage.
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