MAL002 - Rdum and Ras il-Qammieh

Description

Rdum and Ras il-Qammieħ is an area which supports numerous natural rockpools, located in north-western Malta, within Mellieħa. These rockpools are etched out in Globigerina limestone, and are filled by precipitation and sea spray, due to their location on the coastline. The sites cover an approximate area of 40,700m2 and access is difficult due to their relatively remote locations. The Ras il-Qammieħ rockpools lie directly at the base of clay slopes. The site can also be seen from the cliff area above. The slopes are dominated by Lygeum spartum with patches of Arundo donax while at the base of the slopes Juncus maritimum, Chrithmum maritimum, Limbarda crithmoides and Limonium sp. are present. Amongst the boulders lying at the bottom of the slopes, Capparis orientalis and Euphorbia pinea were present. The pools are designated as an Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance. These pools form part of a wider area of Area of Ecological Importance, an Area of High Landscape Value and part of the Għadira Special Area of Conservation, designated under the Habitats Directive (Natura2000).

Wetland data

Basic information
Wetland location: Marine/Coastal
Wetland type: Natural
Wetland area: 4.10 Ha
Hydrological interaction: -  
Water salinity: Brackish (5.0-18.0 g/l)
Type of fresh water input: Catchment area (precipitation)
Surface water runoff Other
Open water area (%): < 5
Hydroperiod: Seasonal
Geographic information
Census district: Northern
Island: Malta
Local council: Il-Mellieha
Longitude: 14.321720 East
Latitude: 35.970030 North
Wetland condition
Wetland status (MEDWET): 2 - Original habitats/landform still predominant (>50%)
Ramsar wetland type
Type Coverage (%)
D -- Rocky marine shores; includes rocky offshore islands, sea cliffs
Property status
Public
Protection statuses
Protection status category Protection status subcategory Area's name Code Coverage area (%) Legislation
National Area of Ecological Importance Irdumijiet Ta' Madwar il-Kosta mic-Cirkewwa sa Benghisa 174729 100 Development Planning Act (Act VII of 2016)
National Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance Ghadajjar ta' l-ilma helu fil-Qammieh 14769 13 Development Planning Act (Act VII of 2016)
National Area of High Landscape Value Diversi Rdumijiet 555546316 100 Development Planning Act (Act VII of 2016)
International Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance Rdumijiet ta' Malta 330728 100 Environment Protection Act (Act I of 2016)
CDDA protection status
CDDA code CDDA category
MT01 Area of Ecological Importance
MT02 Area of Ecological Importance/Site of Scientific Importance
MT15 Area of High Landscape Value
MT11 Special Areas of Conservation - International Importance
Ecosystem services
Type of ecosystem service Ecosystem service Scale of Βenefit (%) Importance
Cultural services Cultural heritage
Cultural services Recreation and tourism
Activities on wetland
Activity Intensity
010 = Habitat conservation High
920 = Drying out Medium
Activities on catchment area
Activity Intensity
010 = Habitat conservation High
220 = Leisure fishing Medium
900 = Erosion Medium
943 = collapse of terrain landslide Medium
Impacts
Impact Intensity
EB- = Increase in aesthetic qualities High
Vegetation types
Type Coverage (%)
Other
Halophytic < 5
Flora
Species Presence status References
Capparis orientalis
Crithmum maritimum
Euphorbia pinea
Jacobaea crithmoides
Juncus maritimus
Limonium sp.
Fauna

Birds
Number of individuals
Nesting
References
Larus cachinnans
Monticola solitarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Calonectris diomedea (Scopoli, 1769)
Puffinus yelkouan (Acerbi, 1827)

Images