Established in 1984, the core duty of the environment department is to preserve the Maldives’ unique natural habitat. The department advises the government on laws and regulations, adopts policies, and implement environment-related strategies.. The division comprises of two sections – Policy Planning and International Relations and Environmental Conservation and Assessment. Four Units run under these two Sections.

1. Policy Planning and International Relations

It carries out the obligations under international environmental treaties and organizations including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer; Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety; Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; South Asia Cooperative environment Programme (SACEP). The section develops innovative financing mechanisms to fund environmental protection projects, enhancing the role and involvement of both civil society and public sector. It is also tasked with planning and implementing public awareness programmes.

Duties are carried out by two units: Environmental Law and Awareness and International Relations.

2. Environmental Conservation and Assessment

The section develops and implements strategies to preserve the Maldives’ biodiversity and declare protected areas; it manages coastal protection projects in coordination with the government, as well as the private and public sector. It researches and provides advice and technical assistance about environmental pollution, it gathers data for geographic information

The section consists of two units: Pollution and Chemical and Biodiversity and State of Environment.