President Announces Additional MVR 7 Million for Biodiversity Conservation
In commemoration of World Environment Day, President Mohamed Muizzu has pledged an additional MVR 7 million to strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts in the Maldives through the Maldives Green Fund.
The Maldives’ greatest national asset remains its extraordinary natural environment. From lush island vegetation and pristine white sandy beaches to vibrant coral reefs and crystal-clear waters, the country’s unique ecosystems have positioned it as one of the world’s most sought-after tourist destinations. These ecosystems are home to rich marine biodiversity, including sea turtles, manta rays, and whale sharks.
However, these natural habitats are increasingly under threat. The combined impacts of climate change and expanding infrastructure development have placed significant pressure on fragile ecosystems across the country. Addressing these challenges has been constrained in part by limited financial resources dedicated to conservation.
As a decisive step to bridge this gap, the President announced that, in addition to existing allocations from the Maldives Green Fund through the national budget, a dedicated additional MVR 7 million will now be specifically earmarked for biodiversity protection and the management of protected areas.
The additional funding will support a range of priority initiatives, including:
- Strengthening the management and monitoring of protected areas
- Conducting essential maintenance and conservation activities
- Advancing environmental research and knowledge dissemination
- Building technical capacity in biodiversity conservation
- Creating sustainable opportunities linked to conservation efforts
The initiative will also promote inclusive environmental stewardship by supporting programmes in collaboration with civil society organizations and school environment clubs, ensuring wider public participation in conservation efforts.
This commitment marks an important step forward in safeguarding the Maldives’ natural heritage, reinforcing national efforts to preserve its ecological richness and sustain its environmental resilience for future generations.