Govt. has ‘hypocritical’ approach to environmental issues: ECOCARE

The government has a “hypocritical” approach towards environmental issues, by advocating for conservation abroad and then starting development projects that negatively impact the environment in Maldives, says ECOCARE's Director of Advocacy Maeed Mohamed Zahir. He said this in an interview on RaajjeTV’s Maldives Weekly on Friday while discussing the government’s airport development project in Kulhudfhuffushi, and its environmental impact in the island. The government last year announced that the Kulhudhuffushi mangrove was to be reclaimed as part of the project. In the interview, Zahir said that the mangroves are home to endangered species and serve as a natural defense system, and had been key to saving Kulhudhuffushi during the 2004 tsunami. Zahir also expressed skepticism over the benefits of the project, as an airport already exists in nearby Hanimadhoo, which is 20 minutes away on speedboat. Zahir also discussed ECOCARE’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which it filed after the government ignored an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the $11.4m project, which warned that reclaiming the Kulhudhufushi mangrove to develop the airport would cause lasting damage to the local environment. Zahir said they have asked the Civil Court to temporarily halt the development project, and to order the Environment Ministry and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to comply with its own regulations and look into the matter. Noting that state-owned MTCC has recently announced that it has completed the reclamation, Zahir expressed worry that it could mean the end of the livelihood for many families who depend on the mangroves for traditional coir rope making, which brings in MVR 8.7m annually. Speaking on the larger topic of climate change, Zahir advocated for a re-assessment of Maldives’ old environmental protection laws, to prevent natural disasters and protect our biodiversity, which he said pays for 70% of the Maldives labor force through tourism and fisheries.