The marine riches of the Maldives

Project goal: the IUCN 'House Reef' program aims to enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems in the Maldives, especially the Ari atoll, to climate change

Duration: From 2012 to 2016

Size: Seven IUCN staff members are based in the Maldives. Five hotel resorts are currently involved in the project

Funding: 6.3 million Euros as part of the Blue Solutions Network by the International Climate Initiative, additional funding by Global travel company Kuoni, shopping giant Global Blue and USAID among others

Key species: Manta rays, whale sharks

Coral reefs contain a dazzling variety of species and are considered among the world’s most sensitive and valuable ecosystems. But in the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the colorful underwater reefs have in some places been reduced to clumps of gray chalkstone. That’s bad news because the Maldives would not survive without intact reefs. They don’t just help to provide a natural barrier against high waves but also provide a crucial source of revenue for the country. Tourists from all over the world are drawn to the Maldives to dive and explore the underwater world of sharks, manta rays and endemic fish species. But tourism is also part of the problem with waste being dumped in the sea and some tourists breaking off corals to take home as a souvenir. It’s a vicious cycle - coral reef erosion means a loss of fish and without algae-eating fish, the corals are overtaken by water plants that squeeze off oxygen supply. Fishermen tend to accelerate the process by casting their nets directly near reefs. Coral reef expert Ameer Abdulla from the nature conservation organization IUCN wants all stakeholders to take responsibility for preserving the reefs. He’s set up the 'House Reef' project to convince hotel managers to set up private marine conservation zones with the help of marine biologists.