The Biological Conservation Research Foundation (BICREF) is a non-profit and non-government group whose action is directed toward assisting local conservation research, assessment, monitoring and management under the scientific framework and expertise in the area of species and habitat conservation available locally through Dr. Adriana Vella's, Ph.D. (Cambridge) research section at the University of Malta. Each volunteer member of BICREF contributes actively toward the conservation project she chooses to participate in and receives training when required to optimize the assistance. The combination of expertise and strong human resources actively working for the unbiased recognition of the conservation requirements in and around the Maltese Islands make BICREF an important and valid NGO for its scientific and environmental considerations.

Both marine and terrestrial conservation work falls under the interests of BICREF and this group spends all of its limited funds on research running costs, no expertise or clerical/administrative work is funded. No funds have ever gone in promotional material publicizing BICREF, as accurate data gathering assistance is the main concern of this NGO, particularly in the scientific conservation research area which has lacked local financial support to date. BICREF realizes that conservation management is very difficult when poor information and expertise is available and thus contributes toward both of these local requirements. Constructive environmental management with long-term effect is extremely necessary in the Maltese Islands. This can only be achieved with detailed updated information and with an environmental precautionary attitude in the mean time. With this rational BICREF has been pushing forward its projects and awareness efforts.

It is therefore with great satisfaction that BICREF welcomes this NGO Eco-tourism Award it has won after submitting a project for consideration. The LM 3000 allocated with this award are kindly made available by the Ministry of Finance and will be used to produce six mini documentaries on Maltese Eco-tourism: its meaning and its sustainability. The documentaries will focus on various natural environmental settings, flora and fauna found on land and in our seas, inspiring pockets of beauty and the appreciation of our need and exploitation of these natural environments while becoming aware that this has to be done with the greatest of respect, knowledge and care.

As BICREF members are frequently active in fieldwork in different local natural settings it was able to propose a project that made available this experience and know how toward uplifting the local and international awareness of our Eco-tourism potentials and requirements.

The BICREF's Eco-tourism project will involve numerous entities apart from the BICREF members, as is typical of previous BICREF's projects. For example, the local music group "Etnika" will be contributing original and traditional Maltese instrumental music for the documentaries accentuating the local cultural flavor.

Eco-tourism in the Maltese Islands should not be considered as a way of increasing the tourist load, but on the contrary seek to undertake the important monitoring and management strategies that will inculcate and sustain the real value of our natural resources. Funds from Eco-tourism should in the future further substantiate the funds directed toward conservation monitoring and management.

Eco-tourism management should not simply change our islands in artificial parks with no long-term natural efficacy, but rather must urgently safeguard in knowledgeable manner the resources we are blessed with and making sure they are not rated as trivial simply because there is no immediate and advertised economic pay back.

From studies of nature parks abroad, it is evident that simply putting an Eco-tourism label on a nature site or a nature tour may often result in the deterioration of that same park and its natural contribution. The usual missing factor is the realization that the Eco-tourism activities may themselves have damaging effects if undertaken without adequate monitoring and conservation management. While nature usually compensates damage done to it, there is a limit up to which this is possible. Quick and easy remedies may rarely give the success desired in restoring damaged ecosystems and genetically impoverished populations or species.

For BICREF this Eco-tourism project is considered an opportunity to address the real meaning of Eco-tourism and its far-reaching and long-term significance to the Maltese Islands in the future. The management of Eco-tourism will however demand financial backing by various entities for it to become a reality that will stay with us for generations to come. Toward this end the Ministry of Finance is giving an excellent example.

Sudden and poorly planned or monitored environmental changes, such as the Mgarr ix-Xini case, the tuna penning saga, the deterioration of our green pockets and the latest swan killings are a few examples of how our beautiful Islands have been suffering a steady degradation process. May this Eco-tourism year be an excellent opportunity to accentuate the value of our natural heritage and encourage all living or visiting these Islands to give full support to the initiatives in aid of improving our life-supporting biodiversity protection. Indeed BICREF believes that Eco-tourism is a step in the right direction if we understand the real implications and support-requirements this activity is linked with.

As a strong contributor toward promoting this Eco-tourism year in the Maltese Islands, the Ministry for Tourism is to be praised, together with all those other local government entities and authorities, local councils and private businesses that will assist by placing the long-lasting presence of our natural heritage higher in their agenda for action both this year and in the future.