President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has today inaugurated a nationwide tree plantation programme “Rah Fehi”, as part of his 100-days’ goals. The programme inauguration was held at the Hulhumalé Phase-2 area. The Ministry of Environment is currently working on expanding the programme to all inhabited islands of the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, the President assured that this administration will not support the desertification of an island to green another. In this regard, the President said that the 100 small palm trees and 150 plants being planted today were not taken from any other island, and that they were grown at the Hulhumalé nursery.
In his speech, President Solih said that development and progress should be attained without compromising our natural habitat and environmental values. He further reiterated that this administration will not sacrifice our natural environment in the name of development, and that the administration’s development policy will be planned in a way that it goes hand-in-hand with safeguarding the environment.
Highlighting the need for proper implementation of environment laws, the President stated that the Environmental Protection Agency will be further strengthened to function independently. He said that as the first step towards achieving this, the role of preparing environmental impact assessments will be taken from the mandate of the Ministry of Tourism and transferred to the Environment Ministry.
President Solih further underscored the importance of sustainably carrying out the tree plantation project, and called upon all Maldivians to be part of the tree plantation programme.
President Solih’s First 100-Days Pledges encompass a vast scope of areas. As part of his environment related pledges, President Solih has initiated the campaign to reduce single-use plastic at government institutes, and launched the national cleaning exercise “Saafu Raajje”. President Solih’s Cabinet has also set plans in motion to declare Keylakunu and Neykurendhoo Islands of South Thiladhummathi Atoll, and Baarah Island of North Thiladhummathi Atoll, as environmentally protected conservation areas.