The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Group of Earth Observations (GEO) to commence “The Global Ecosystem Atlas Accelerator for the Maldives” project.
The MOU, underlines the commencement of the first-ever official project to develop an atlas on the Maldivian ecosystem and topology. This initiative, highlights the ministry, is poised to elevate the various infrastructural and urban developmental projects across the Maldives as well as enhance environmental sustainability practices.
The Atlas project is expected to provide a new tool for the government and affiliated environmental organizations to strengthen its current and prospective projects towards environmental preservation and protection of natural resources.
The ministry also noted its ongoing efforts to add more objectives under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that are in line with the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. The action plan will provide a preamble, of sorts, for the Atlas project.
The initiative will also assist in achieving the objectives of the development of natural parks, biosphere reserves, and eco-tourism in the Maldives. The project will also provide details of the environmental characteristics of the country among other information about these natural habitats, including academic writings.
The project, funded by USAID, will be managed in collaboration with the IUCN based on prerequisite data collected on the island nation’s natural characteristics.
The ministry further stressed the project’s importance since the Maldives relies on its natural resources and added it will enhance the acceleration of nationwide sustainability projects.
Minister of Environment Thoriq Ibrahim also thanked GEO for selecting the Maldives to run the pilot project.