Communities in the Maldives will benefit from stronger coastal protection and more resilient livelihoods through expert guidance on protecting and managing critical mangrove habitat.

The initiative forms part of the UK Government’s Sustainable Blue Economies Programme and is being delivered by the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in partnership with the Maldives Ministry of Tourism and Environment and K. Huraa Council.

Mangroves are some of the most valuable ecosystems on earth: acting as nurseries for fish and shellfish, shielding coastlines from erosion and storm surges, storing carbon and supporting local livelihoods. Yet mangroves in the Maldives are threatened by human and climate change impacts, ranging from building encroachment to rising sea levels.

The project focuses on K. Huraa mangrove, which is protected under the Environment Act and faces growing threats from infrastructure development and construction. This project will deliver a mix of technical research to better understand the vulnerabilities of the mangrove and the benefits it provides, alongside community engagement and incorporation of traditional knowledge to improve mangrove management.

Participatory focus group

Women and young people will be central to the project. Participatory focus groups to integrate long-held community knowledge on mangrove threats, management and benefits will support pathways to community stewardship and employment in conservation, eco-tourism and environmental education.

The project will also fill critical data gaps on how climate change, sea-level rise and human pressures are affecting the mangrove. These findings will inform the Conservation Action Plan for K. Huraa and potentially provide a scalable model for mangrove management across the Maldives.

British High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mr Nick Low, noted,
“For communities like K. Huraa, mangroves are not just ecosystems. They are protection, food security and opportunity. The United Kingdom is pleased to be working with Maldivian partners to place local people, especially women and young people, at the heart of protecting and managing these vital natural assets. This project shows how local knowledge and international expertise can come together to build resilience from the ground up”

Muhusina Abdul Rahman, Director of Protected Areas at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment added, “This project has been particularly valuable in placing communities at the centre of protected area management. Through close collaboration with local councils and community members, and with the support of partners such as JNCC and SBE, the work reflects local priorities while strengthening long-term capacity and shared stewardship of our natural environment.”

Dr Louise Anderson, project manager and an Evidence Specialist at JNCC said, "The K. Huraa community's knowledge and priorities are at the heart of this work. Their generosity in sharing their expertise and time has helped us improve recommendations to understand and care for this mangrove, enabling us to collectively build on earlier work. What we've learned together is now shaping practical, real-world recommendations for protecting mangroves across the Maldives as our climate changes."

This work reflects the UK government’s commitment to drive sustainable growth and support climate resilience internationally, protecting the livelihoods and communities most exposed to the effects of a changing climate.