Is-Simar

Is-Simar
Is-Simar
Is-Simar

Is-Simar

  • Country: 
    Malta
  • Site number: 
    789
  • Area: 
    58.4 ha
  • Designation date: 
    29-01-1996
  • Coordinates: 
    35°56'N 14°22'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

This Site is a human-made coastal wetland, which features locally rare coastal lagoons and temporary ponds, surrounded by garrigue and farmland. The wetland area provides a feeding and resting area for several migratory bird species of which a few are vulnerable in Europe, such as the globally vulnerable common pochard (Aythya ferina) and the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur). Species breeding at the site include the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), the moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), the Zitting cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) and the Sardinian warbler (Sylvia melanocephala). The Site supports one of the few Maltese populations of the Mediterranean killifish (Aphanius fasciatus), and the endemic Maltese pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis urvilleana) and Maltese spider orchid (Ophrys melitensis). The Site is important for the maintenance of hydrological regimes and for flood control. Water levels are maintained by precipitation, run-off, and saltwater seepage through the porous substratum. There are bird observation hides. Noise pollution from a nearby road creates some disturbance.

Administrative region: 
Reġjun Tramuntana, Malta (Northern Region, Malta)

  • National legal designation: 
    • Area of Ecological Importance - Ix-xagħri tax-Xagħra tal-Għansar u x-Xemxija
    • Area of Ecological Importance (Buffer Zone) - Il-masġar fuq ix-Xagħra tal-Għansar u x-Xemxija
    • Area of Ecological Importance (Buffer Zone) - Il-masġar madwar ir-riserva tas-Simar
    • Area of Ecological Importance (Buffer Zone) - L-art agrikola fl-arja ta’ l-Imbordin, ta’ Ġannaru, is-Simar, il-Pwales u ta’ Rkuplu
    • Area of Ecological Importance and Site of Scientific Importance - Is-sistema ta’ għadajjar salmastri ġewwa r-Riserva tas-Simar
    • Bird Sanctuary - Il-Madwar tas-Simar, fir-Ramla tal-Pwales, San Pawl il-Baħar
    • Special Areas of Conservation – Site of International Importance - Is-Simar
    • Special Protection Areas - Is-Simar
  • Regional (international) legal designations: 
    • EU Natura 2000
    • Other international designation
  • Last publication date: 
    20-04-2023

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Additional reports and documents