Grantee: Saviour Bonnici

Project Duration: November 2024 – October 2025

 

The Challenge

Malta is home to 11,000 species of flora and fauna, including approximately 130 endemic species. However, this biodiversity is unfortunately under threat. Saviour strongly believes that changing mindsets begins with education but that nature education is lacking in Malta. This led him to create the professional documentary series which showcases the wide variety of flora and fauna found on the Maltese Islands including the rarest mammal in Malta – the Maltese Weasel.

The Solution

Natura Maltija is a professional documentary series that highlights Malta’s unique ecosystems, endemic species, and rich biodiversity through a scientific and visually engaging lens. Created by teacher and filmmaker Saviour Bonnici, the series fills a major gap in nature education by documenting indigenous wildlife in their natural habitats—something rarely seen in local media.

Unlike other programs, ‘Natura Maltija’ combines rigorous ecological insight with high-quality footage, making it both educational and emotionally impactful. It has already contributed to scientific knowledge by capturing never-before-seen wildlife behaviours, and is recognised by Malta’s Ministry for Education and the President as a valuable educational tool.

The Malta Environment Foundation is supporting the next phase of the project, which will make the series more accessible through online platforms, English translations, and permanent public availability—broadening its reach to both locals and international audiences.

Project Outcome

The project delivered these key outcomes:

• Engagement of new audiences by increasing accessibility.
• A free educational resource for teachers, lecturers and students.
• A free tool for NGOs and individuals to convince authorities and politicians to protect the natural environment.
• Initiate discussions with the Ministry of Education to include the subject of nature education on the national school curriculum.
• Generation of support for creating future content to film new species (only 100 out of 11,000 species found locally have been filmed so far).

 

“Access to knowledge empowers change in society. The support received through the MEF’s grant allows the Natura Maltija documentary to be freely accessible to everyone on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. People of all ages and backgrounds will now have access to watch, learn and educate about Malta’s unique natural heritage.”

Saviour Bonnici, Director and Producer of Natura Maltija Documentary