News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — On this World Environment Day, the President of the Maldives, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is launching the 5 Million Tree Project, a key promise in the government’s manifesto. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday inaugurated an ambitious nationwide effort to plant five million trees over the next five years, a key pledge of his administration aimed at combating climate change and preserving the nation’s fragile ecosystem.
The launch ceremony took place at Lonuziyaaraiy Park in the capital, where the first batch of trees—comprising 22 species native to the Maldives, including fruit-bearing, shade-providing, and medicinal plants—were planted. Many of these species face the threat of extinction due to environmental degradation and urbanization.
The initiative, first announced by Muizzu at last year’s COP28 climate summit, is part of a broader governmental strategy to enhance greenery across the Maldives, an island nation at the forefront of the global climate crisis.
“This is about securing the future of our environment and our people,” Muizzu said at the event, which was attended by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Male’ Mayor Adam Azim, and several Cabinet ministers.
The government has pledged to extend the program beyond the capital, with plans to plant trees on all inhabited islands as well as resort islands. Climate Change Minister Thoriq Ibrahim noted that the initiative would include over 90 varieties of trees, with ongoing monitoring to track carbon sequestration and assess the program’s environmental impact.
The Maldives, a low-lying nation particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, has increasingly prioritized environmental sustainability, though challenges remain in balancing development with conservation efforts.
