Forrest
Forest Monitoring for Enhanced Resiliency and Ecological Connectivity
Forrest
FORREST is an environmental restoration and monitoring project aimed at strengthening the resilience, biodiversity, and ecological connectivity of Malta’s main afforested areas. The project focuses on improving the long-term management of woodlands and forested habitats through scientific monitoring, restoration measures, and innovative environmental technologies.
The project targets several important afforested and Natura 2000 areas across the Maltese Islands, including Buskett, Foresta 2000, Miżieb, l-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa, Kemmuna, and Wied Inċita. These areas play an important ecological role in supporting biodiversity and providing habitat connectivity along the Central Mediterranean migratory route between Europe and Africa.
One of the project’s main objectives is the establishment of a long-term national forest monitoring framework. Through the collection of ecological data and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), FORREST aims to better understand forest health, habitat connectivity, tree diversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience.
A key component of the project is the rehabilitation and monitoring of Buskett Woodland through a tree-specific census and digital geodatabase. Individual trees will be tagged using innovative RFID technology, allowing for more detailed long-term monitoring and management of Malta’s largest woodland area.
The project also includes habitat restoration and afforestation interventions, including the control of invasive non-native plant species and the planting of indigenous trees and shrubs to strengthen ecological corridors between Malta and Comino. These efforts will contribute towards healthier ecosystems, improved biodiversity, and greater environmental resilience in the face of climate change.
In addition to conservation actions, FORREST also seeks to improve visitor experience within afforested areas through better accessibility, sustainable pathways, and environmental management measures that promote responsible enjoyment of Malta’s natural heritage.
Through science-based management, habitat restoration, and long-term ecological monitoring, FORREST contributes towards the sustainable protection and enhancement of Malta’s woodland ecosystems for future generations.
