The government has undertaken a suite of environmental programmes in Laamu Atoll, advancing national efforts in sustainability, climate resilience and waste infrastructure development, to commemorate World Environment Day.
The initiatives, led by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, reflected the administration's escalating focus on long-term ecological governance. The agenda featured a tree-planting campaign, a community policy forum, and a ministerial site visit to a waste management facility now under construction in Gan.
Presiding over the engagements, Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim marked the day's events with a ceremonial planting in Fonadhoo. On Sunday morning, he placed a teak tree, 'Haivakaru', as it is locally known, into the ground as part of the nationwide '5 Million Trees Project', a flagship effort to expand the nation's green cover and strengthen ecological buffers.
The occasion also brought together policymakers and stakeholders for the 'Mahthini Workshop', inaugurated by Minister Thoriq later in the day. Addressing participants, he highlighted the forum's role in advancing two cornerstone frameworks: the National Adaptation Plan and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Both, he noted, remain vital to addressing climate threats and safeguarding biodiversity across the nation.
The minister’s visit also highlighted efforts to embed sustainability into infrastructure development, exemplified by his inspection of the waste management centre in Gan and consultations with project teams on site. "I am currently here to inspect the ongoing work of the waste management centre in Gan," he told PSM News. "While progress is evident, the purpose of this visit is to practically look into and facilitate what needs to be done for the contractor to expedite the project."
Once operational, the facility is expected to be equipped with what the minister described as "state-of-the-art equipment", technology intended to significantly bolster waste management capacity throughout the atoll. The minister concluded his itinerary with a visit to Kadhdhoo Airport, where he reviewed meteorological operations and engaged in discussions with airport personnel about site-specific needs and operational challenges.