Dataset delle Aree protette definite secondo art. 6 e 7 della Direttiva Acque e associate al reporting nazionale della Water Framework Directive - River Basin Management Plans - 2016 Spatial data.

This theme contains information about Solution Subsidence Structures (Q -Quaternary and M -Miocene).

Qs - Modern beach sands (HOLOCENE).Qv - Valley fill (LATE PLEISTOCENE-HOLOCENE, TYRRHENIAN): Low angle subaerial fanglomerate cones, terra rossas, local clays and alluvium. Fanglomerates frequently are dominated by subangular carbonate lithoclast breccias and interpenetrative channels. Intercalated terra rossa palaeosols often contain rhizoid (root) fabrics and nodular caliche of varying ages but all post date valley cutting.Thickness 0-7m. Qb - Dunes and raised beach deposits (LATE PLEISTOCENE-HOLOCENE, TYRRHENIAN): Wind blown foraminiferal, marine mollusc and quartzarenitic grainstones. In Malta, the Marfa Point deposit contains rhizoid fabrics, and pulmonate gastropods of undiagnostic age. Terra rossa palaeosols are intercalated in some sections. The main deposits in Gozo are at Ramla Bay. Thickness 0-3m. Qt - Tufa and travertine deposits (? EARLY PLEISTOCENE): Friable, cream coloured lime mudstones, and wackestones with abundant plant remains, pulmonate and hydrobid gastropods. All deposits developed before termination of valley incision. The Fiddien Valley deposit near Rabat (Malta) pre-dates the terra rossa palaeosols but molluscan faunas are undiagnostic of age. Thickness 0-16m.

Natura 2000 - SCIs & SPAs data harmonised according INSPIRE Protected Sites data theme. The submission of sites to the EC entails the preparation of a datasheet and a map for each site, that is for each proposed SCI and for each SPA, unless a proposed SCI has the exact boundary as an SPA; in the latter case only one datasheet is prepared comprising all relevant information. Reference can be made to the Natura 2000 viewer - including datasheets (link: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/) and to the Natura 2000 database (link: http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/natura-2000/) to obtain information on each Natura 2000 site for almost all of the EU Member States. Information for the sites nominated by Malta are also available through these same links.

The Tertiary theme gives information on the Miocene and Oligocene bedrock divided at Member level.It was produced from the Geological Map of the Maltese Islands published at a scale of 1:25,000 by the Oil Exploration Directorate (OPM) in 1993. This map depicts the bedrock geology of the Maltese Islands including lithological and structural information.

The Stratigraphical boundaries are indicated by solid lines where observed and by dashed lines where inferred.

Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas across the European Union, with the aim of affording protection to habitats and species of wild fauna and flora of Community interest. Conservation and management measures have to be established and implemented to ensure that the condition of the natural habitats and species for which the protected areas have been designated, is maintained and/or restored, in order to ensure their long-term survival/existence.

The Fault theme contains information on faults and fault controlled synclines divided into threeclasses as follows:Fault Obs - Observed faults are indicated by solid lines. Downthrow direction indicated by bars and sense of relative movement indicated by arrows;Fault Inf - Inferred faults are indicated by dashed lines. Downthrow direction indicated by bars and sense of relative movement indicated by arrows;Fold Syncline - Fault controlled syncline axial trace.

The submission of sites to the EC entails the preparation of a datasheet and a map for each site, that is for each proposed SCI and for each SPA, unless a proposed SCI has the exact boundary as an SPA; in the latter case only one datasheet is prepared comprising all relevant information. Reference can be made to the Natura 2000 viewer - including datasheets (link: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/) and to the Natura 2000 database (link: http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/natura-2000/) to obtain information on each Natura 2000 site for almost all of the EU Member States. Information for the sites nominated by Malta are also available through these same links.

World Heritage Sites are described by UNESCO as exceptional places of ‘outstanding universal value’ and ‘belonging to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located’. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to protect and preserve such sites through an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, drawn up in 1972 Scottish Ministers identify and put forward sites to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for nomination. This dataset includes both the legal designation and buffer zone boundaries of the World Heritage Sites in Scotland enscribed by UNESCO as well as non-statutory sensitive areas for planning advice. Once a World Heritage Site is inscribed, under the Convention, member states have a duty to protect, conserve and present such sites for future generations.