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Fragile Beauty
White sandy beaches sparkling in the sun alongside crystal clear
lagoons offer an idyllic place to spend a perfect holiday. While
this is true in most aspects, the degree of fragility of our
environment is gaining much attention at national and
international levels. The fragile marine and terrestrial
environments, including the reefs and their bio-diversity, will
be greatly affected without careful management of the
environment. Such awareness has brought many concerns to light,
and the Government is taking extensive measures towards
protecting the environment.
The whole capital island is enclosed within sea walls, a
protection measure to reduce the impending hazards of climatic
change and sea level rise.
In 1989 the first National Environmental Action Plan was
developed forming a base for future actions to prevent
environmental hazards.
Protected Marine Areas
Steps have been taken to avoid over-exploitation of natural
resources. Protected Marine Areas were established in 1995. This
was the first step in protecting these areas from the
detrimental effects of over-fishing, coral mining, anchor damage
and rubbish. The killing of turtles, which is under threat of
extinction, is banned and the export of turtle shells and
products made of turtle shell is prohibited. Many other marine
species are similarly protected.
Sport fishing practiced by some islands is now confined to the
tag and release method.
Meetings and Conferences
The Maldives was proud to host a ministerial level meeting,
Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise, in 1989 calling for
various actions to be incorporated in the Male’ Declaration. The
Maldives also participated in the Second World Climatic
Conference in 1990 and the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro
in 1992. In 1994 the Maldives participated in the Global
Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States and in 1997 participated in the Kyoto
Conference. Also in 1997 the 13th Intergovernmental Panel on
Climatic Change was held in the Maldives.
Maldives’ approach to environmental issues as with many other
small states stays in harmony with the concept 'Think globally
and act locally' |
