Malta is justifiably renowned for its rich archaeological, historical and cultural heritage. However, the islands are generally thought of as having little to offer in terms of natural history, that is, natural objects and events, including plant and animal life, fossils, rocks, landscape features and climate. This is far from the truth. In spite of their small size, the Maltese Islands are endowed with a variety of habitat types, a diverse fauna and flora, and an interesting geology. These constitute the natural heritage of the Maltese Islands, which is just as worthy of study and preservation as the rest of the nation's patrimony.peer-reviewe
