In the Media - Press Release

26th May, 2007

Gaia celebrates 10 years of Coastal Management.

This month of June Gaia is launching its 10th anniversary celebrations of the start of its integrated coastal zone management, referred to as Project Gaia. Founded in 1994, the Foundation signed a management agreement with the Environment Protection Department in 1996. Following studies and plans, the project got underway in June, 1997. The project's vision is to take a holistic and integrated approach to environmental management, in accordance with the Gaia principle, thus achieving as a whole more than that through the sum of the parts. The project incorporates habitat restoration, tree planting, patrolling and monitoring, a nursery for native plants, a visitor centre, an organic farm and Gaiafest, an annual holistic festival in June. The project is currently covering 2 areas, Għajn Tuffieħa in Malta and Ramla in Gozo.

Gaia's 10th anniversary celebrations will feature at Gaiafest, which takes place between the 7th and the 10th of June at its Elysium Visitor centre at Għajn Tuffieħa. In commemoration of the event it has also launched a brand new website, with a vast array of information on its projects. A quiz on the website, at www.projectgaia.org, which is suitable for both adults and school children, promises a list of prizes for the winners, ranging from a Lm30 organic food hamper and a Lm30 voucher for indigenous plants, to free tickets to Gaiafest and vouchers for Cinecafe'.

The celebrations include the launch of Cinecafe', a Friday evening event at the Elysium Centre, where cultural and environmental movies are screened at no charge in an open air theatre in the beautiful grounds.

In commemoration Gaia will be donating 350 trees to the Foresta 2000 project in Mellieħa, being run by fellow organization Birdlife. These will be made available for planting in the Autumn. Gaia's message in the "Earth Gift" is that the power to create and conserve is greater than the power to destroy.

Dr. Rudolf Ragonesi, The Foundation's Executive Director, stated that the climax to Project Gaia's anniversary celebrations will be the launch of a new project of national importance. This will be announced and presented to the public in the coming weeks.

Timeline

1996	Għajn Tuffieħa Management agreement signed. PA issues Malta's first Emergency Conservation Order for Għajn Tuffieħa.
June 1997	First stage of implementation of management plan and launch of Gaia Green Rangers.
Autumn 1997	Initiation of tree planting programme at Għajn Tuffieħa
June 1997	First stage of implementation of management plan and launch of Gaia Green Rangers.
1998	First 1,000 trees planted.
1999	Work begins on converting sewage treatment plant to tree nursery.
2000	Launch of LIFE project managed by Gaia and directed by ICoD - The first LIFE project managed by an NGO in Malta. Restoration of Għajn Tuffieħa Tower.
2000	Management agreement signed for Ramla Bay, Gozo. Ramla Management Plan issued.
2001	Launch of Persephone Organic Project; launch of summer marine patrols with Poseidon patrol boat, funded by LIFE. Launch of website. Project Gaia features on German and French national television, and the Suddeutche Zeitung.
2003	Elysium Tree Nursery upgraded to Malta's first Environment Visitor Centre, launched at Roots Festival, featuring Etnika and The Rag Foundation. Project Gaia features on Austrian TV.
2004	Launch of global citizen workshops for foreign students.
2005	Launch of Gaiafest, the Festival of Holistic Living. Launch of Midas organic and fair trade shop.
2006	Launch of Gaia’s prize winning Athene Olive Oil.
2007	Launch of new website at www.projectgaia.org; launch of Cinecafe’ - where entertainment meets Awareness”. Project Gaia set to appear on Italian TV.
2007	New national project - to be launched in June/July.

Rudolf Ragonesi
Executive Director