The Cliffs Centre: Landuse and stakeholder responsibility for protecting Dingli Cliffs

The Cliffs Interpretation Centre is located in the middle of the largest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in the Maltese Islands; a protected area of several endemic species and habitats. As a significant stakeholder within this protected area, The Centre has always had an educational role related to protecting the surrounding environment.    

The Cliffs Interpretation Centre strives to promote the full meaning of an Interpretation Centre, that of providing innovative means of communication to all types of visitors, ranging from locals, school students, and foreign visitors. The upgraded ecotourism tour packages that are offered by The Cliffs Interpretation Centre, highlight not just the environment, but also the historical and cultural heritage of the surrounding Dingli Cliffs. The understanding of the medicinal and gastronomical use of local wild edible produce, linked with traditions, provide an authentic experience.

As a stakeholder, The Centre strives to ensure a continuation of education of the surrounding areas’ natural and cultural heritage. It provides information on the surrounding environment and nature laws that protect certain flower and animal species (such as the EU Habitat’s Directive), along with the regular updates on seasonal flowering plants and other monitoring information. The Centre helps the public to be made aware of the importance of education in the conservation of the surrounding protected area.

The Cliffs managed to bring together various landusers such as landowners, farmers, hunters, trappers, environmentalists, visitors, locals and sports related, amongst others.