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Post by **MWP admin** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:55 pm

The destiny of Narcissus tazetta in the Maltese mentality / motto

"Environment is free - Environment is for me"

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:12 pm

It is indeed disgraceful.

I think it would be a good idea to send this photo as it is (with the people being unidentifiable) to a local newspaper such as the Times with a short accompanying note. We need to keep on creating awareness as to what is going on.

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:46 am

The largest enemy of this plant are Maltese people. For several decades and maybe centuries, people used to cut the flowering stems and use them as bunches to decorate their houses or more often churches, religious communities or graves. When Malta was inhabitated by less than 100,000 people, and garigues where more vast than nowadays, this practice had not much left a negative impact on the population of Narcissus tazetta, but today, the Maltae isalnds nearly holds 400,000 people and the garigue areas are much more restricted than centuries ago. Some years ago, Narcissus tazetta was even cut from the environment and sold as bunches to people. Parents often tell their children to cut as many flowers as they can find rather to educate them and tell them the importance to be left untouched. Cutting one or two flowers is probably fine but a whole bunch like the adjecent photo is untolerable.

This over-picking of flowering stalks is now leaving a negative impact on this plant species. By cutting the flowers, the plant is not allowed to sexually reproduce seeds and so there is a drastic decrease of the spread of this wonderful plant. When the mother bulbs die due to physical damage, or disease, or physiological age, they would not be replaced by new seedlings which grow from seeds. The decrease of Narcissus is unarguably felt on our islands. For those who want to see to believe, just go in December at Mistra and compare the numbers of Narcissus with that found at Saint Paul's Island, where few to none people are present.

I blame more the authorities concerned rather the people themselves, who in their lack of knowledge, cut the flowers as a tradition.

Hence authorities concerned should introduce this education in our country (via media and school) to avoid the cutting of these flowers as much as possible so as the plant self-regenerate and we would have back numerous scented flowers over our garigues and valleys. Failing to do so, would gradually result the extintion of this wonderful flowering plant as it happened with Tulipa grandiflora (Tulipan salvagg). <br><br>

wolf · Post by **wolf** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:56 pm

MWP - I agree with Robcar - send pics to press. I was at Selmun last Sunday and I saw two different people with big freshly cut bunches - and allajbierek they looked the educated sort too. If people become more aware that it is in fact illegal ( as far as I know ) to cut this flower then they might think twice. It is after all selfish to take these flowers from where they belong and put them in a vase at home for your selfish enjoyment.

send them to times or sunday independent - the latter paper is running two pages dedicated to environment every sunday.

wolf

Post by **MWP admin** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 7:24 pm

Wolf, yes I agree too. When I took the photo I had that in mind too.

You know me well, that I am not good to write good english articles so I gave the pics to one of the forum members (I should keep the profession secrecy I assume

) and he will move the photo to local newspaper

I think the problem is that the general public do not know about the harm they are doing and it is like a tradiition. It should be published in Media, especially on TV before the Super 1 News and Net News

I am ignorant about laws, but I think it is not illegal. If so, where are the legendary green wardens?

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:01 pm

I agree with you wolf that cutting such plants is very selfish, and is leafding to an impoverished countryside.

Unfortunately Stephen is right in the sense that cutting Narcissus is not illegal. It is not listed under Scedule IV of the 2003 regulations dealing with flora, fauna and natural habitats and therefore has no protection at all at law. Most of the plants that are protected are either endemic or with very restricted distribution or are else covered by international conventions.

While I will still try to send the pictures to a newspaper, it will mainly be to create awareness. As things stsnd I could cut thousands of flowers and nothing can be done. Amazing

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:15 pm

After aome research I have come to the conclusion that it is almost useless to complain about this craze of cutting Narcissus tazetta.

In the recently published 2005 State of the environment report, MEPA specifically indicates that Narcissus tazetta should be exploited from the wild - the term used here is exploited in a managed way.

So not only is it not illegal to cut the plant, but the plant is considered as a major candidate for exploitation

wolf · Post by **wolf** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 6:53 pm

are you bloody serious ?
MEPA - what a bunch of w****rs

WOLF

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:43 pm

Wolf I am very serious

Go to the mepa main web site
Click- the link Cross cutting themes (top right hand)
Click- State of the environment report 2005
Click- biodiversity
Click - Background note on the exploitation of wildlife - View document
Enjoy the 2nd part of page 4 and page 5

wolf · Post by **wolf** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:13 pm

thanks robcar for helping me locate this document - MEPA website is good but always a nightmare to find something .. . so.....first we let narcissus become rare and endangered and then we try to protect it right ... i will freely admit i sometimes pick up a small sprig of rosemary ( if we're having pork or chicken !! ) but picking narcissus by the bucketful is just not on
the green code of the countryside shud be leave only footsteps / take only photos ( exception cape sorrel perhaps )

wolf

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:29 pm

I dont believe it robcar, do you have some document which suggest this?

wolf · Post by **wolf** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:41 pm

MWP - follow robcar's link and its all there bl'iswed fuq l-abjad as they say....unbelievable but true

wolf

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:46 pm

Sorry, I started to write the message at 7pm and guests come to our house and had to stop writing that message.

IL-PINE · Post by **IL-PINE** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:20 pm

Unbelievable! What is next? Telling people to cut wild Iris? What a bunch of stupid ppl.

robcar · Post by **robcar** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:19 pm

I agree with all you guys that for plant lovers permitting Narcissus to be cut is shameful. Yet everything has to be kept in perspective.

Mepa is not urging us to go out in multitudes to cut Narcis. It realises that the present free for all situation is unacceptable.

However mepa seems to be arguing that there is some demand which could be regulated in some way and calls for managed harvesting to ensure that the species is conserved

Of course it does not mean that I agree with them. In fact I strongly do not

. I do not believe that there is any socio-economic necessity for harvesting these flowers, and they should be given full protection.

The benefits to society as a whole (nature lovers, ramblers, tourists etc) of having fields covered with narcis during the winter months when little showy flowers are around is much greater than the marginal benefits that a few selfish individuals can obtain from cutting them for themselves or for sale

jackpot · Post by **jackpot** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:22 pm

robcar: for this Narcissus I agree 100% with you

Post by **MWP admin** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:53 pm

More straw to the fire!

Saturday I (and Picus) met what looked like to be a foreigner and his wife with a bag of Narcissus tazetta. My heart couldn't resist to 'educate' him and tell him about it.

As suspected he was not Maltese

When I told him that he should not pick that much, he was surprised and stated that Narcissus where being sold at the market of B'Kara at 10c per bunch. He added that further up there is a large field of Narcissus

This was at that steep pathway from Mistra valley to Selmun castle.
As a matter of fact there where 2 fields entirely full of flowers - as if once where cultivated.

So then I was a bit shamey

for stopping the guy and I think I did not impress him much.

Well my point is that N. tazetta is still beng sold at markets (not personally confirmed)

wolf · Post by **wolf** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:05 pm

no need to be ashamed - you did well in fact - I also sometimes pluck up courage and tell people off - not easy but sometimes you just have to do it.
unfortunately yes narcissus is still sold commercially

wolf

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:40 pm

keep in mind that narcissus is also cultivated and u cant be sure whether those on sale are cur or not
in any case there is no law against this
if you want stephen we can join forces and use a nice photo of narcis and issue a press release - wither now or when next season comes.we do so every year to coincide with holy week and xmas and widepsread cutting of thyme, olives etc
by the way last year we had a report of wild thmye being sold in bormla market! police were brought on site and the guy was reprimanded not sure if it reached court though

Post by **MWP admin** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:44 am

Count me in partner! Just remind me becasue I am full of things to do and errands. I could have taken dozens of people with bunches. I liked to publish this one because of the kid - that is look what education he is getting from the adults/parents!