"That's a complete lie": scrapping of reclamation near marine sanctuary sparks protests in Dhonfanu

The campaign pledge to create new land in Dhonfanu had been made upon request by voters, Muizzu said. "However, I have now been informed on behalf of the people that they no longer want this. Therefore, the government will not go ahead with land reclamation on the island," he tweeted.

But the supposed appeal to cancel the project did not reflect consensus in Dhonfanu as the announcement sparked protests on the island. 

Speaking to the Maldives Independent as the protesters gathered outside the council office, Dhonfanu Council President Ahmed Irushad denied any change of community sentiment.

“That’s a complete lie. It wasn't informed to the people or the council. We didn't ask to change the decision," he said. "We have always been asking for land to be reclaimed and to find a solution to the land scarcity problem. I am telling you with certainty, no one has asked to stop that project.” 

Over 100 people applied for housing in 2020, Irushad said, estimating the number to be higher now. “Dhonfanu has a big land scarcity problem. During each administration we have asked to address this problem. So the president made that decision and has now suddenly changed his stance," he added. 

“There are about four families living in one house, and there are social problems too because of this."

Irushad said the resident population of Dhonfanu would exceed the figure of 398 enumerated in the 2022 census. 

"There are 46 plots of land in our land use plan yet to be given out in Dhonfanu, and the council is working on creating the guidelines to allocate these plots according to demand," he said. “It is not an adequate amount of land for our current situation.” 

During his visit to Dhonfanu last month, President Muizzu declared that the project would resolve the problem of land scarcity "to the extent it is possible within the lagoon of this island." 

Despite the cancellation, harbour development and coastal protection will still go ahead as planned, the infrastructure minister announced today.

The MVR 214 million (US$ 13.8 million) land reclamation project, contracted during Muizzu's tour of Baa atoll in mid-August, would have involved dredging the seafloor less than a kilometre from a world-renowned snorkelling hotspot for encountering manta rays and whale sharks.

Hanifaru is located southeast of Dhonfanu on the eastern edge of Baa atoll, which was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011. The unique geography of Hanifaru reef and the funnel-shaped bay that traps microscopic plankton during the southwest monsoon draws the world's largest known aggregations of manta rays. 

As the Maldives' first actively managed marine protected area, Hanifaru bay requires entry permits for all visitors and serves as a national model for conservation management. The Baa Atoll biosphere reserve office based in the atoll capital Eydhafushi oversees the site, using entry fee revenue to fund operations and community projects.

A total 17,430 people visited Hanifaru bay in 2024, according to the biosphere reserve office. The allure of Hanifaru brought US$ 311 million annually into Baa atoll, the office estimated based on information supplied by resorts and partners.

Irushad acknowledged the potentially destructive impact of reclamation on the neighbouring marine sanctuary. But he suggested that it could be carried out with minimal harm without compromising the interests of Dhonfanu residents. 

“Baa Atoll biosphere reserve is there because the people in the atoll want it and I believe it benefits the entire Baa atoll. Dhonfanu is the closest island to Hanifaru bay, but that proximity does not give us any particular benefit to our community" he said.

The reclamation could be done during the northeast monsoon, the off-season for manta ray sightings, he added. 

"Dhonfanu people also believe it could have an impact on environment. But they do not believe it will have such a negative impact that it cannot be done," he said. "It would not be fair to sacrifice the Dhonfanu population just to maintain Hanifaru as it is. This is an essential right of the people here that has been called into question. Our appeal is to do this in a way that does not harm Hanifaru and also Dhonfanu residents."

Notwithstanding the council president's plea, the president's announcement marks a rare victory in the Maldives' perpetual struggle between development and conservation.

The reversal came after intense opposition from conservationists. An online petition collected more than 5,000 signatures against development projects near the manta ray haven. 

However, questions remain about other projects announced for Baa atoll during the president's tour in August, including the expansion of Kihaadhoo, resort development in the Goidhoo lagoon, and airport construction in Thulhaadhoo, all of which would require land reclamation.  

It is unclear whether these projects will proceed or face similar reconsideration.

The plans to dredge near Hanifaru bay comes after UNESCO's International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme renewed Baa atoll's biosphere reserve status for a further 10 years following a periodic review in 2022.

Dismayed by the projects in the pipeline, conservationists have warned that development could imperil one of the most ecologically-rich and popular tourism spots in the country. 

Appearing on the Maldives Independent's Ithuru Vaahaka podcast last week, Maeed Zahir, founder of EcoCare described the plans as lacking long-term vision or planning.

"Even in Hanifaru, there were no discussions with people about reclaiming 13 hectares of land. But the government believes that a 13-hectare land is important for Dhonfanu. The population of Dhonfanu is fewer than 400 people. For such a small population, there are 60 plots of land still available and the council has ideas to develop local tourism in their five-year plan," he said.

"There is no vision or a long-term plan or consideration of climate change impacts and especially the impact on the natural resources that people depend on for livelihood and its impact on the economy."

Aya Naseem, chief research and outreach officer of the Maldives Coral Institute, estimated the age of the corals in Goidhoo to be up to 500 years old. 

"They have survived multiple coral bleaching events during the past few centuries. These are very resilient coral reefs. When you reclaim an area, we can see that surrounding corals are affected. The sediments from the reclamation will move with the current and when it deposits on top of corals, they die. Dredging will have direct impacts, some corals are dredged up along with the sand," she explained.

"Goidhoo atoll has a lot of coral cover. There are seagrass in some areas too. There's a lot of diversity there. We see about 240 species of corals in Maldives, when we went to survey this area, we saw almost half of that in a single 200 square metre transect. So protecting this place is more important than even any other place in Maldives."