Grants
Community Agency & Action
EcoSpectrum
€10,000 awarded
Grantees: Malta Chamber of Scientists
Project duration: January 2026 – March 2027
The Challenge
Chadwick Lakes is one of the few remaining natural freshwater valley systems in Malta, acting as a biodiversity hotspot and supporting crucial ecosystems that cannot survive elsewhere on the island. These valley systems include riparian habitats, which are among the rarest and most threatened ecosystems in Malta, impacted by human activity, climate change, and invasive alien species.
Along the Chadwick Lakes Trail, the White Poplar riparian woodland has been colonised by Great Reed, an invasive species that outcompetes native vegetation and suppresses seed germination.
The project aims to restore ecological balance by removing the invasive reed, allowing light and space for native riparian vegetation to regenerate naturally. Complementary seed collection and replanting initiatives will conserve local genetic diversity. Education and awareness campaigns will further enhance biodiversity, soil health, and habitat resilience.
The Solution
EcoSpectrum is an inclusive environmental restoration and education initiative focused on rehabilitating the Chadwick Lakes ecosystem in Malta. The project combines science-based ecological restoration with experiential STEAM learning, engaging neurodivergent youth through hands-on activities such as biodiversity mapping, invasive species removal, and native tree planting.
By integrating ecology, creativity, and education, EcoSpectrum restores degraded habitats while empowering participants to develop practical scientific skills in a supportive, collaborative environment. The project enhances biodiversity, promotes social inclusion, and fosters community engagement, contributing directly to Malta’s sustainability and conservation goals.
EcoSpectrum serves as a replicable model linking environmental stewardship with inclusive, accessible education -demonstrating how ecological restoration can also deliver meaningful social impact.
“Engaging neurodivergent teens in restoring an area of Chadwick Lakes is about more than planting and habitat recovery. Their work restores fragile ecosystems, protects species, and demonstrates how valuable all individuals, with the support of scientific knowledge, are in making a real difference. With the guidance of ecologists and experts, their creativity, hard work and passion will show everyone how small actions can create big ecological and social change.”
– Karen Fiorini, Project Lead, Malta Chamber of Scientists