EU pledges €4 million to protect Maldives’ mangroves

The European Union (UN) has pledged a grant of four million Euros to the Maldives to protect the country’s mangroves.

The financing agreement for the project ‘Community-based Mangrove Protection and Regeneration in the Maldives’ was exchanged on Thursday in a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry.

It was signed by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheryna Abdul Samad and EU Ambassador to the Maldives Maria Carmen Moreno Raymundo.

The agreement was handed over on her behalf by Dr. Johann Hesse, the Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the EU to the Maldives.

According to a joint statement released by the Foreign Ministry and the EU, the agreement pertains to a grant of 4 million Euros to support the role mangroves play in biodiversity conservation, coastal protection, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, through community-based initiatives.

The initiative is designed to directly contribute to the implementation of the Maldives’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 under the Paris Agreement by enhancing nature-based climate resilience and community-led adaptation in coastal areas. 

Following the exchange of the agreement, Sheryna expressed appreciation to the EU for its continued support to the Maldives across a range of areas, particularly in advancing climate change initiatives and environmental protection efforts.

“The European Union has long been a valued development partner to the Maldives across a broad range of sectors. We are particularly appreciative of its continued support in advancing the Maldives’ climate action priorities and strengthening our environmental protection efforts,” she said.

Meanwhile, Hesse emphasized the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems through community engagement and policy reform.

“Mangroves protect coasts, conserve biodiversity and store carbon, but their survival depends on local engagement and strong policy frameworks. Through this program, the EU is supporting Maldivian communities and authorities to combine grassroots action with improved laws and planning, creating lasting benefits for ecosystems and people,” he said.

The initiative is expected to strengthen local capacity for sustainable environmental management while promoting community engagement in protecting vulnerable ecosystems across the Maldives.