Members of the public have begun expressing concern over the deforestation of Bandidhoo, Dhaalu Atoll, for a road development project which began on January 13.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the uprooting of 585 privately owned coconut palms on the already semi-barren island, in order to establish 11 roads as per a previously approved Land Use Plan (LUP).
The trees are to be transported to developing resort island Sun Aqua Iru Veli, Aluvifushi, Dhaalu Atoll for greenifying and landscaping purposes.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report conducted by Commerce Development and Environment (CDE) Consulting also failed to mention the project's impact on the island's local economy.
So it turns out that it is not just Bandidhoo alone that relies on coconuts that grows on Bandidhoo palms. Check out this post.
— Adam Abdulla (@edzyadam) November 21, 2018
I really wonder what happened to our EIA experts that they do not see & understand these facts. #MVTreeGrab pic.twitter.com/cT8Cu9YwAi
#SaveBandidhoo#SaveMaldives 🌊🌴💙 pic.twitter.com/csHLmQWuzK
— #SaveMaldives (@SaveMaldivesMV) January 20, 2020
According to environmental collective 'SaveMaldives', CDE only consulted 25 individuals from the approximately 900 residents of Bandidhoo.
The trees removed during the project are to be taken to Aluvifushi resort for landscaping & greening the resort!! The EIA concludes that the project is of high socio-economic benefit to Bandidhoo. I wonder in what sense this is beneficial to Bandhoo at all? (2/3) #MVTreeGrab pic.twitter.com/5PArt5wUwN
— Adam Abdulla (@edzyadam) November 19, 2018
"Bandidhoo EIA's no-project alternative does not acknowledge that a community of people with little to no resources depend on their palm groves as an income source", said a source representing Save Maldives.
"The complete dis-service this EIA does to an uninformed community must be addressed by the government of Maldives".
Environmental experts state that due to such destructive actions, the delicate nature of the Maldivian environment is facing severe repercussions such as erosion, loss of habitat for indigenous creatures, and more.
"The Maldives comprises of oceanic atolls, and for that reason, its survival depends on the resilience of the seas, reefs and coastlines. It is our collective responsibility to protect our islands and guarantee their survival for posterity", asserted President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his presidential address on February 7, 2019.
"Our development plans and policies must centre around preserving our naturally beautiful nation. Our natural resources must be preserved to ensure our habitat is safe and resilient. We shall make our mark on the international arena again as a leading champion of the environment".
However, various development projects sanctioned by President Solih's government contradict the spirit of their pledges to decentralize and ensure the protection of the environment, including the controversial proposal for the development of multiple bridges to link capital city Male', suburb Vilimale', Gulhifalhu and garbage island Thilafushi as part of the 'Greater Male Industrial Zone'.
Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OOCRP) also found that Aluvifushi was leased for a discounted price during the graft of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) during the tenure of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Several cases of large scale vegetation being uprooted from inhabited islands to be replanted on developing resorts have surfaced. As such, 819 palms are to be uprooted and planted in different locations to clear land for three major development projects in Mulah, Meemu Atoll.
Although the government finalised the decision to amend regulations concerning tree removal, roughly eight months have passed since the administration collected public opinions on the matter. Legislative changes are yet to be proposed.
A recent movement started by local environment advocates under the hashtag #MVTreeGrab has been widely credited as having brought the issue of uprooting palm trees and "tropical deforestation" to a phase of action.
Sign In
