As hiking and camping season returns to Malta, local environmentalist Denis Cachia is reminding nature lovers to tread lightly, especially when exploring the island’s countryside.

In a recent post, Denis highlighted the often-overlooked importance of mosses and lichens, two small but mighty components of Malta’s garigue landscape. While they may simply look like colourful patches on rocks – even showing up in black sometimes! – these organisms play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Mosses and lichens act as pioneer species, slowly breaking down rock to create new soil. They also retain moisture, prevent erosion, and provide food and shelter for various insects and small animals. On top of that, they help regulate water and nutrient cycles and even contribute to stabilising the local microclimate.

During the dry summer months, many of these organisms go dormant, but with the first rains of autumn, they spring back to life almost instantly, painting the garigue in beautiful shades of green and gold.

Denis’ main message is a simple yet crucial one: don’t flip stones in the countryside. Disturbing rocks covered in mosses and lichens destroys them, and it can take years for the ecosystem to recover.

Happy (nature-friendly) hiking!