Visit the Maldives before it’s too late!

 

If the Maldives is the destination you’ve been dreaming of for some time, make sure you visit soon. We may not know what the future has in store for this fabulous island nation.

Boast a long and glorious history, from the formation due to prehistoric volcanoes dating back millions of years, to vibrant communities and modern luxury resorts.

But with the increasing effects of global warming, those dreaming of escaping to this paradise had better visit now, before it’s too late. See also

In 2019, more than 1.7 million people visited the Maldives, and due to global travel restrictions, the Maldives recorded 555’399 tourist arrivals in 2020. 2021 will be a year of hope for the Maldives, tourism is again growing rapidly, all visitors are looking for the famous white sand beaches, turquoise water of the lagoons and a real castaway experience.

The unique geography of the island nation, hundreds of pristine coral islands scattered along a double chain in the Indian Ocean is what makes this destination a paradise, but it also exposes it to environmental change.

The islands of the Maldives are among the lowest in the world, just a few feet above sea level, and as climate change causes ocean levels to rise, the risk of the islands disappearing altogether is real. Scientists believe that if global warming continues, within a few decades the Maldives could be swallowed by the ocean.

To that end OPPURE in this regard, the Government of the Maldives is implementing a series of plans to protect the islands and citizens from rising ocean levels. These include protecting aquifers, increasing rainwater harvesting, combating coastal erosion and increasing the height of key infrastructure, most located on the coast.

The inhabitants of some of the more remote and volcanic islands have already been relocated to islands with better natural protections.

One option is to build seawalls for the islands, such as those surrounding the capital Malé, but funds are needed to do so. The government has outlined its commitment to supporting and investing in tourism as the country’s main means of generating funds for climate change defense, as well as seeking financial help internationally.

Biodiversity is also high on the agenda, and the government has designated several nature reserves to protect wetlands and mangroves, as well as bioswales to protect coral reefs, all habitats that provide protection against flooding.

Maldives’ climate change action

Preparing defenses for the future is just as important as being educated about the current situation and taking steps to combat climate change at its source.

The Maldives has taken action against plastic waste by passing an ambitious law that will ban the use of single-use plastics by 2025, while also banning the importation of plastic bags. Single-use plastic is already banned in Maldivian schools.

There are no widespread recycling programs in the Maldives, but in recent years the state-owned Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO) has partnered with Parley for the Oceans – an environmental organization committed to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans – to establish a plastic recycling lab in Malé. 

There are a group of volunteers and community education programs that aim to raise awareness about this topic, from beach cleanups to sea turtle conservation. Schoolchildren and fishermen have been mobilized to clean up waters and beaches of plastic waste, and tourists can participate in a variety of activities to protect coral reefs and marine flora and fauna.

Even the famous luxury resorts in the Maldives have gone green, recording a sharp increase in ecotourism and attention to sustainability.

The Resilient Island group has come up with a particularly innovative and exciting project, the Maldives Matter Project, which works on developing the world’s first self-sustaining greenhouse in a tropical climate of a lowland area. About 95 percent of food in the Maldives is imported, and the Maldives Matter Project aims to reduce carbon emissions, grow and produce food in the country.