New fund will ‘bridge the gaps to enhance biodiversity and wellbeing’ – ERA CEO

Environment & Resources Authority (ERA) CEO Michelle Piccinino joined Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia to announce the launch of a new fund by the ERA, which will be financing projects, programmes, and schemes with the aim of protecting the environment and improving quality of life on the Maltese Islands.

The fund will kick off with an initial investment of half a million in the first scheme, titled Better Environment in Our Local Urban Spaces (BELLUS), which will be aimed at supporting projects tailored towards protecting, restoring, and improving the environment.

Ms Piccinino affirmed that through this initiative, ERA will ensure the relevant implementation, promoting synergy to work alongside various entities, including local councils, schools, public entities and NGOs. This investment, she maintained, will bridge the gaps to enhance biodiversity and wellbeing.

Projects applicable for the scheme must include actions that will benefit the environment in relation to the themes of green and blue infrastructure; afforestation and environmental restoration; improving the local environment, including greening urban areas; biodiversity and nature protection; and initiatives for conservation and restoration of sensitive zones near urban zones.

“Our country continues to face a number of challenges, including environmental ones, which is why the need for innovative, sustainable, and green projects are more important than ever,” Minister Farrugia said of the initiative, adding that “this fund gives a chance to public entities, local councils, and voluntary organisations to come forward with their projects to improve the local environment and safeguard our islands.”