Gov’t to assess the wealth of natural resources in Maldives

Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim announced that the Endheri project launched to assess the wealth of natural resources in the Maldives will be rolled out across the country. He made the remarks during the handover ceremony for the “Endheri Small Grants 2024”, in Fonadhoo, Laamu Atoll. The event marked the allocation of USD 97,724 to three local associations. Additionally, USD 390,896 was donated to the island council for the effective management of protected areas within the atoll. Emphasizing the significance of evaluating natural resources, Minister Thoriq noted that while many foreign nations recognize the value of such resources, critical assets in the country like reefs, and marine ecosystems remain largely unassessed. He highlighted that the Endheri project aims to create natural capital accounts for the atoll and will be implemented nationwide. As part of the Endheri project, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) was contracted to conduct assessments of the country’s natural resources. A team from UNSW is scheduled to visit Maldives in November to share the findings of the studies and provide training to relevant institutions.