S.L. 549.44 ст. 5Setting up of the National Ecological Network.

(1) The competent authority shall set up a coherent ecological network of protected areas under the title of the National

Ecological Network.

(2) Such network shall be composed of sites characterised by one or more of the following features:

(a) representative types of biodiversity of adequate size to ensure their long-term viability and to maintain their biological diversity;

(b) habitats which are in danger of disappearing in their natural area of distribution or which have a reduced natural area of distribution as a consequence of their regression or on account of their intrinsically restricted area;

(c) habitats critical to the survival, reproduction and recovery of endangered, threatened or endemic species of flora or fauna listed in Schedules II and III;

(d) any site where certain endemic, possibly endemic, native and, or potentially native species with a restricted distribution in the Maltese Islands occur;

(e) any site in the Maltese Islands where certain endemic, possibly endemic, native and, or potentially native species, communities and, or biotopes are found;

(f) any site which represents the type locality of a species or biotope, particularly if this species or biotope is endemic or possibly endemic;

(g) sites of particular importance because of their scientific, ecological, biodiversity, biogeographical, zoological, botanical, aesthetic, cultural, landscape or educational interest;

(h) sites forming part of the Natura 2000 network, set up through the provisions of regulation 6;

(i) any site which the competent authority may consider as having relevant features but which are not listed above.