President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has called on Maldivians to take an active role in protecting the country’s environment, urging citizens to view greening the Maldives as a personal responsibility rather than solely a government initiative.
Speaking on The Pulse, a programme focused on key national development sectors, the President emphasized the importance of collective action in expanding greenery across the country and preserving the Maldives’ natural environment for future generations.
As part of his appeal, President Muizzu encouraged greater public participation in the government’s ambitious 5 Million Trees Programme, which was launched to increase vegetation cover, protect biodiversity and revive plant species that are becoming increasingly rare in the Maldives.
The President particularly called on young people to become involved in environmental efforts and contribute towards achieving the programme’s objectives.
“I ask all Maldivians, especially our youth, to consider greening the Maldives as a personal responsibility,” the President said. “I encourage everyone to participate in the 5 Million Trees Programme and make a special effort to plant trees in different parts of the country this year.”
The environmental initiative is among the flagship programmes of the current administration and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability in the island nation.
President Muizzu noted that environmental considerations are also being incorporated into development projects undertaken across the country. While acknowledging that certain infrastructure projects may require the removal of trees, he said additional planting efforts would be carried out to compensate for vegetation lost during construction.
According to the President, the government remains committed to ensuring that development and environmental protection progress hand in hand.
The 5 Million Trees Programme is the largest tree-planting campaign ever undertaken in the Maldives. Although the initiative was originally launched with a target of planting five million trees, commitments made by government institutions, businesses and private organisations have already pushed the pledged total beyond 6.4 million trees.
Authorities say more than 1.6 million trees have already been planted under the programme since its launch.
A major focus of the initiative is the conservation of native and endangered plant species. As part of these efforts, 90 species identified as threatened, rare or disappearing from the Maldives have been catalogued for cultivation and reintroduction.
Environmental experts have long highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous plant life, noting its role in protecting island ecosystems, preventing erosion, supporting biodiversity and enhancing resilience to climate change.
The Maldives remains one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and coastal erosion. As a result, environmental conservation and ecosystem restoration have become increasingly important components of national policy.
The President said achieving the goals of the tree-planting programme will require participation from all sectors of society, stressing that protecting the country’s natural environment is a responsibility shared by every citizen.
With millions of trees already committed and planting efforts continuing across the atolls, the programme is expected to play a significant role in shaping the country’s environmental landscape in the years ahead.
