The Male’ City Council on Saturday launched an initiative to plant coconut palms – a tree deeply rooted in Maldivian identity – along the capital city’s western coastline.
During his time as the city’s mayor, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had chosen to plant date palms around Male’. His administration has also planted date palms in public parks and in front of the new international passenger terminal at the Velana International Airport (VIA).
But some of these date palms, a tree that is not native to the Maldives, have begun to wither and die.
Incumbent Mayor Adam Azim has chosen to plant coconut palms.
Azim told Sun that the council is planting coconut palms in the empty spaces near the Rasfannu beach, in the city’s western end.
މާލެ ސިޓީ ފެހިތަނަވަސް ސިޓީއަކަށް ހެދުމަށް ކުރަމުންދާ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން މާލޭގެ ހުޅަނގު ފަރާތުގައި ދިވެހި ރުއް އިނދުމަށް ތައްޔާރުވަމުންދަނީ #FehiThanavasMale@MaleCitymv pic.twitter.com/vddmk1j9WW
— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) October 25, 2025
He believes the trees that are planted in the Maldives must be ones that go well with the country’s climate.
“The residents of Male’, and the majority of Maldivians in general, want to have more Maldivian coconut palms planted. Therefore, I will respect the will of the people. The people want us to plant Maldivian palms,” he said.
But the city council does not plan on replacing the date palms with coconut palms.
“We will be checking up on the palms that are dying. If they are dying, the council will discuss it and decide what to do,” he said.
Azim believes the planting of coconut palms will create a pleasant space whether members of the public can come and relax.