The status of the coral reefs and the management approaches: The case of the Maldives

• The biggest threat to the coral reefs of the Maldives is from elevated sea water temperatures.
• Siltation from dredging for island harbour construction is possibly the most severe anthropogenic pressure on the reefs.
• Solid waste disposal is another threat to the reefs of the nation, for which an adequate solution has yet to be found.
• Inadequacy of human resources is a pressing issue with respect to research and monitoring activities.

The islands of the Maldives are very low lying with an average of about a metre above mean high tide. Consequently, climate change and associated sea-level rise, is a very real threat faced by the people of Maldives and it may well be one of the most vulnerable in the whole world. For the Maldives, where the whole population practically lives on reefs, it would not be erred in stating that their livelihoods are totally dependent on the reefs and the services obtained from them. In addition to their directly obvious economic significance, the coral reefs are also responsible for the protection of the coasts from the open sea and storms and even from obliviation of these low lying islands.While effects such as coral bleaching are consequences of natural events, anthropogenic causes such as coral mining, siltation and pollution have contributed to loss of the Maldives' reefs. The institutions in place to manage, sustain and conserve the reef environment have implemented mitigation measures towards ensuring a healthy and sustainable reef environment. With a few Acts of Parliament, most legal authority is derived from regulations pursuant to these Acts. Though stakeholder involvement is limited, the industrial sector has taken initiatives to promote reef growth. Existing measures are producing desired outcomes. However lessons need to be learnt from other similar countries and more need to be done especially in way of provisions for safe garbage disposal, mitigation of marine oil pollution and improving human resources for better management and strengthen resilience.