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National Adaptation Programme of Action

(NAPA)

Republic of Maldives

GEF

Prepared by
The Government of Maldives

Ministry of Environment Energy and Water


National Adaptation Programme of Action
(NAPA)

Republic of Maldives

GEF

Prepared by
The Government of Maldives
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water
i

Maldives NAPA Team: Ms. Mariyam Saleem (Marine Research Centre)


Lead Author and Project Manager: Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed (Department of
Ms. Lubna Moosa Public Health)
Dr. Mohamed Shareef (Ministry of Planning and
Co-Authors:
National Development)
Dr. Simad Saeed
Ms. Hafeeza Abdulla (NAPA National Consultant)
Dr. Mohamed Shiham Adam
Ms. Mizna Mohamed (Ministry of Environment, Energy
Dr. Abdulla Naseer
and Water)
Dr. Sheena Moosa
Mr. Hussain Naeem (Ministry of Environment, Energy
Mr. Ahmed Shaig
and Water)

Contributors:
Editors:
Mr. Ahmed Jameel (Ministry of Environment, Energy
Dr. Simad Saeed
and Water)
Mr. Ahmed Shaig
Mr. Amjad Abdulla (Ministry of Environment, Energy
Ms. Lubna Moosa
and Water)
Mr. Ibrahim Shaheen (Maldives Transport and Support Staff:
Contracting Company) Ms. Aminath Zumeena
Ms. Fathmath Shafeega (Ministry of Planning and Mr. Ibrahim Hamza Khaleel
National Development) Mr. Abdulla Mohamed Didi
Mr. Mohamed Aslam (LaMer) Ms Athira Ali
Mr. Hussain Zahir (Marine Research Centre)

Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, 2006


The contents of this report may be reproduced in parts with acknowledgment of source.
ISBN

Published by:
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, 2006
Fen Building
Male', Republic of Maldives
Tel: +960 3324861
Fax: +960 3322286
Email: env@environment.gov.mv
Website: www.environment.gov.mv

Cartography, design and layout by: Ahmed Shaig


Photos courtesy of: Portrait Gallery
Printed by:
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives ii

Foreword
By President of the Republic of Maldives

27 December 2006

Our world is today faced with many mitigate against climate change, there is
serious threats to the prospect of life and no local-level fix to this global problem.
the well-being of our future generations.
Numerous challenges lie ahead of us in
Poverty, terrorism and global pandemics
the quest to safeguard the Maldives and
rank among the most serious perils
its people from the rising seas. We must
facing us. However, to the three hundred
find ways to adapt to higher sea levels,
thousand inhabitants of the Maldives
higher levels of natural stress on coral
none of these threats compare, in
reefs, higher temperatures, higher
magnitude and likelihood, to global
frequency of severe storms and varying
climate change and consequent sea level
rainfall patterns. Thus, this National
rise.
Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
Twenty years ago, the Maldives activated will hopefully guide us in this endeavour
the alarm bells on this impending threat in the years ahead. It outlines the
to the survival of our nation. Slowly but activities that we must implement to
surely, we caught the attention of the adapt to climate change. I note with
international community. Two decades satisfaction that the NAPA was developed
on, the scientific evidence of climate with wide stakeholder participation and
change is overwhelming. Climate change through extensive consultations at the
and sea level rise are already happening. atoll and national levels. Thus, the views
Although some work is being done to and priorities in the Programme have the
endorsement of the public.
iii Foreword by President

The reverberating message here is that


the commitments agreed on in the Kyoto
Protocol fall way short of reversing the
climatic trends. It is therefore absolutely
essential that those who have made
those commitments at least prove their
good faith.

I call upon all Government agencies, our


international development partners and
friends to extend their full cooperation to
us to make this adaptation programme a
success.

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives iv

Contents

Foreword ii 4.2 Precipitation 14

Acknowledgment vii 4.3 Temperature 14

Abbreviations ix 4.4 Extreme events 15

1 Introduction 1 5 Vulnerabilities and Impacts 18


2 Adaptation Policy 5.1 Land, Beach and Human
Framework 3 Settlements 19
2.1 NAPA Goal 3 5.2 Critical Infrastructure 23
2.2 Maldives Adaptation Policy 5.3 Tourism 25
Framework 3 5.4 Fisheries 28
3 Country Characteristics and National 5.5 Human Health 31
Development 7 5.6 Water Resources 33
3.1 Geography and climate 8 5.7 Agriculture and Food
3.2 Society 9 Security 34
3.3 Economy 10 5.8 Coral Reef Biodiversity 36
3.4 NAPA and National
6 Adaptation Needs and Priority
Development 10
Adaptation Strategies 40
4 Climate Change and Climate 6.1 Adaptation Needs 40
Variability 13
6.1.1 Land, Beach and Human
4.1 Sea level rise 13 Settlements 40

6.1.2 Critical Infrastructure 40


v Table of Contents

6.1.3 Tourism 41

6.1.4 Fisheries 41

6.1.5 Human Health 41

6.1.6 Water Resources 42

6.1.7 Agriculture and Food Security


42

6.1.8 Coral Reef Biodiversity 42

6.2 Priority Adaptation


Strategies 43

7 Adaptation Projects 45

References 131

Annex I - Maldives NAPA Process

and Key Steps 137

Annex 2 - List of participants in the


national and regional workshops 147
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives vi

List of Tables year, and its linear trend for


Hulhul for 1989 to
Table 4.1 Probable maximum storm
2005 15
tide 18
Figure 4.2 Relationship between hourly
Table 4.2 Probable maximum storm tide
sea level and return period for
by region 19
Hulhul, based on observed
Table 4.3 Storm tide estimates for medium
hourly sea level for 1989 to
and high sea level rise
2005 16
scenarios 19
Figure 4.3 Maximum daily rainfall, by
Table 4.4 Return period of wind speeds year, for Hulhul for1975 to
associated with cyclones in 2005 16
Maldives 20
Figure 4.4 Relationship between daily
Table 4.5 Cyclone hazard zone in Maldives rainfall and return period for
and the probable maximum Hulhul, based on observed
wind speed 20 daily rainfall for 1975 to
Table 5.1 Largest inhabited and 2005 17
uninhabited islands in Figure 4.5 Cyclone tracks over Maldives
Maldives 23 between 1877-2004 20
Table 5.2 Major land reclamation Figure 5.1 Island size and land utilization
activities in Maldives 25 across Maldives 22
Table 6.1 List of priority adaptation Figure 5.2 Extent of erosion in
strategies 48 Maldives 25
Table 7.1 List of project profiles 50 Figure 5.3 Export revenue for tuna, reef
fish fisheries and other
varieties, 1998 2005. 32
List of Figures
Figure 5.4 Relative estimates of fish catch
Figure 2.1 Conceptual framework of NAPA by atoll units in terms of
illustrating the complex population and reef area 34
relationship between
Figure 5.5 Incidence of acute
sustainability and adaptation
gastroenteritis in the Maldives
to climate change 9
2002-2005 36
Figure 3.1 Location of Maldives 11
Figure 5.6 Incidence of dengue in
Figure 3.2 Map of Maldives showing
Maldives 2000-2005 37
geographic and climate
Figure 5.7 Incidence of scrub typhus in
features
Maldives 2000-2005 37
Figure 3.3 Population Distribution in year
Figure 5.8 Map of Major coral reef
2000 and 2006
structures 42
Figure 4.1 Maximum hourly sea level, by
vii Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement

The National Adaptation Programme of


Action Maldives was prepared by the
We would also like to thank the members
Integrated Climate Change Strategy
of the Climate Change Technical Team
(ICCS) Projects of Ministry of
from the following government and
Environment, Energy and Water.
private agencies for their valuable time
The Ministry wishes to acknowledge the and input to the NAPA process from the
valuable support of Global Environment following government agencies and the
Facility and its implementing agency, private sector.
United Nations Development 4 Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture
Programme. We would like to thank and Marine Resources
Ms.Hudha Ahmed, the UNDP Programme
4 Marine Research Centre
Co-ordinator for her commitment,
4 Maldives Transport and
helpful support and guidance throughout
Contracting Company
the NAPA process.
4 Ministry of Health
The Ministry gratefully acknowledges the
4 Ministry of Planning and National
work undertaken by the National Project
Development
Manager of the Integrated Climate
4 Ministry of Tourism and Civil
Change Strategy Project, Lubna Moosa
Aviation
and the Maldives NAPA Team for co-
ordinating the stakeholder consultative 4 Ministry of Housing and Urban

process and producing the draft NAPA Development


report.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives viii

4 Ministry of Construction and


Public Infrastructure

4 Ministry of Transport and


Communication

4 Ministry of Education- Educational


Development Centre

4 Ministry of Economic
Development and Trade

4 Ministry of Atolls Development

4 Department of Meteorology

4 Maldives Fishermen's Association

4 Land and Marine Environmental


Resources Group Pvt. Ltd.

4 Seamarc Pvt Ltd

4 Banyan Tree Maldives

Appreciation is also expressed to


representatives from the atolls who
participated in the regional stakeholder
consultations and those from the
government and private agencies who
participated in the national workshop.

We thank the staff of the Integrated


Climate Change Strategy Project, Atoll
Ecosystem Conservation Project, and the
Environment Section for the support
extended by them.
ix Acronyms

Acronyms

7NDP Seventh National Development NAPA National Adaptation


Plan Programme of Action

CCTT Climate Change Technical


SRES Special Reports on Emission
Team
Scenarios
ENSO El Nio-Southern Oscillation
SST Sea Surface Temperature
FNC First National Communication
UNDP United Nations Development
GDP Gross Domestic Product
Programme
GEF Global Environment Facility
UNFCCC United Nations Framework
ICCS Integrated Climate Change
Convention on Climate Change
Strategy

IOTC Indian Ocean Tuna V&A Vulnerability and Adaptation


Commission

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on


Climate Change

MDGs Millennium Development


Goals

MSL Mean Sea Level

MTL Mean Tide Level


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives x

Male International Airport


1 Introduction

Chapter I
Introduction

...there must be a way out. Neither the Maldives nor any small island nation wants to
drown. That's for sure. Neither do we want our lands eroded nor our economies destroyed.
Nor do we want to become environmental refugees either. We want to stand up and fight.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom,


Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise, Male', 1989

The Maldives is among the most Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment:


vulnerable to predicted climate change A Climate Change Enabling Activity. The
and non-action is not an option for the FNC contained mitigation and adaptation
country. The number of scientific and measures and the project profiles for
technical assessments undertaken in the continuing climate change adaptation
country since 1987 has reiterated the and mitigation process.
need for long-term adaptation to climate
This is the first National Adaptation
change. Since the commencement of sea
Programme of Action (NAPA) developed
wall construction around the capital
to communicate the most urgent and
Male' in September 1988 the
immediate adaptation needs of the
government has implemented several
Maldives as stipulated under UNFCCC
projects aimed at adaptation to
Decision 28/CP.7. NAPA was prepared
environmental threats.
with support from the Global
The Maldives played an important role in Environment Facility (GEF) and United
the negotiations that led to the United Nations Development Programme
Nations Framework Convention on (UNDP). Preparation of NAPA began in
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and was the October 2004 and the process was
first to sign the Kyoto Protocol to the halted because of the South Asian
UNFCCC. The Maldives submitted the tsunami of December 2004. NAPA work
First National Communication (FNC) to recommenced in February 2006.
the UNFCCC in 2001 following the
implementation of the Maldives GHG
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 2

NAPA process was guided by the consultations at regional and national


principles of broad stakeholder level were undertaken based on a prior
engagement, partnership building among agreed methodology to identify
focal agencies and ownership by the vulnerabilities and adaptation activities
people of Maldives especially the atoll and to prioritize these activities.
population. A multidisciplinary National
The NAPA is intended to be concise as
Climate Change Technical Team (CCTT)
well as brief and contains seven
was established as a first step to foster
chapters. Following this introduction
stakeholder engagement. Community
Chapter Two presents the NAPA goal and
consultations and awareness raising
describes the National Adaptation Policy
activities were held for representatives
Framework. Chapter Three describes the
from seven atolls of the Maldives and the
country characteristics and national
capital Male'. Targeted awareness raising
development goals. Chapter Four depicts
and activity-based learning was
the climate hazards and risks. Chapter
conducted for school children from five
Five analyses vulnerabilities and the
secondary schools. Existing climate data
biophysical impacts of climate change.
for the Maldives was analysed with
Chapter Six lists the adaptation needs
international expertise culminating in the
and priority activities. NAPA concludes
first Climate Risk Profile for the Maldives.
with Chapter Seven that contains the
National experts produced vulnerability
project profiles for adaptation to climate
and adaptation (V&A) related technical
change in the Maldives.
papers for priority sectors identified by
the NAPA Working Group. Extensive
3 Adaptation Policy Framework

Chapter II
Adaptation Policy
Framework

This chapter presents the goal of the sustainable development outcomes; and
Maldives NAPA and the overall adaptation strategies.
adaptation policy framework adopted for
According to the Intergovernmental Panel
the country.
on Climate Change (IPCC) vulnerability
is the degree to which a system is
2.1 NAPA Goal
susceptible to, or unable to cope with,
The goal of the NAPA is to present a adverse effects of climate change,
coherent framework to climate change including climate variability and
adaptation that enhances the resilience extremes (IPCC 2001:388). Adaptation
of the natural, human, and social refers to adjustment in natural or
systems and ensures their sustainability human systems in response to actual or
in the face of predicted climate hazards. expected climatic stimuli or their effects,
which moderates harm or exploits
2.2 Maldives Adaptation Policy beneficial opportunities (IPCC
2001:365). For the Maldives NAPA,
Framework
adaptation is a multi-dimensional goal

Figure 1.1 provides a simplified picture that aims to increase resilience of the

of the policy framework for adaptation to vulnerable systems against climate

climate change in the Maldives. It hazards and risks to achieve sustainable

presents the interactions among climate development outcomes.

hazards and risks; exposure and


It is acknowledged that a complete
vulnerability of the systems; the desired
adaptation policy framework would be
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 4

Figure 2.1: Conceptual framework of NAPA illustrating the complex relationship between sustainability and adaptation to
climate change.

Investment
Sea Level Rise Insurance
Access to
V U
S L resources
E Sustainable Development
Adpatation Strategies
I

Outcomes
T

Extreme
E R
E R A I L I

Hu
al

Weather Policies
tur

Work
ma

A B I L I T
Na
B

Laws & Regulations Income


n

SYSTEMS
Mobility
Awareness,
Produced Shelter
communication &
Recreation
information
N

IE

Environmental Quality
L

S
U
V Market-based tools Knowledge
Projects Health
Increasing Family & Social Relations
Management Freedom
Temperature
Security
Changes to
Precipitation Patterns
Growth collapse
Political instability
Balance of payments
Natural disasters
Technology or trade induced shocks Social upheaval
Financial crisis Civil strife
Terrorism

more complex than is depicted here. adaptation framework is on climate


Because of the limitations in human change related hazards, risks and shocks
knowledge on complex systems such as and what the Maldives will do to cope
society and ecosystems it is not possible with them. The first component of the
to have a perfect adaptation policy framework is the climate change-related
framework. However, there is plurality of hazards for the Maldives. The hazards are
values in the framework presented here assessed based on the Climate Risk
as it attempts to bring climate change Profile of the Maldives, the Disaster Risk
into the national development agenda Profile of the Maldives and the IPCC Third
and identify key interrelationships. Assessment Report. The hazards are
described in Chapter Four. Other types of
Societies have always faced risks and
risks such as growth collapse, balance of
shocks. Sustainable societies are those
payments, financial crisis and technology
that have devised mechanisms to help
or trade induced shocks are also shown
reduce or mitigate risk and cope with the
in the framework which may impact the
effects of shock. The focus of the
vulnerable systems concurrently and
5 Adaptation Policy Framework

hence future adaptation outcomes. systems are the human-made material


resources that can be used to produce a
The second component of the
flow of future income which includes the
adaptation policy framework is
basic infrastructure (transport, buildings,
vulnerable systems. The vulnerable
water, energy and communications), and
systems are characterized by high
production equipment such as machinery
vulnerability through exposure to
and tools (Saeed 2005).
different specific climate hazards, as well
as being strategically important at The vulnerability of these systems to
national level. For the purposes of the climate hazards is described in Chapter
Maldives NAPA 'system' comprises of Five. This chapter is based on synthesis of
natural, human and produced systems. scientific and technical vulnerability
assessment studies that have been
Natural systems are the natural and
conducted in the Maldives since 1987
environmental resources broken down
and the V&A assessment contained in the
into; (i) renewable natural resources; (ii)
FNC in 2001.
non-renewable resources; (iii) the
ecosystems and services which support The third component depicted on the
and maintain the quality of land, air and right hand side of the adaptation
water; (iv) the maintenance of a vast framework is the sustainable
genetic library, referred to as biological development outcomes. Sustainable
diversity and (v) land, the space in which development is not an easily defined
human activities take place. Human concept and it is almost impossible to
system refers to human lives, human define how much of it is adequate. The
health and knowledge, skills and essential elements of sustainable
competences of individuals. Produced development can only be understood
relative to place, time, local context,
culture and value systems. The goals of
the Seventh National Development Plan
(7NDP) are taken as a good basis for
understanding the sustainable
development outcomes for the Maldives
relative to present time and local context.
The country characteristics and the
national development goals are described
in Chapter Three.

A society's ability to achieve sustainable


development outcomes depends on
choices made by individuals, firms and
governments on how they use and
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 6

transform the systems and how they The final component of the adaptation
mitigate or reduce the risk of climate framework is the barriers to
change to the systems. The fourth implementation. There are several socio-
component of the adaptation policy political shocks and stresses such as
framework is the processes that interact political instability, social upheaval and
with the systems to influence adaptation. terrorism that could affect speedy
In order to achieve the sustainable implementation of national adaptation
development outcomes, there has to be a activities. Such shocks have a tendency to
process for maintenance, replacement alter and reshape national priorities over
and renewal of the systems. This process the short and medium-term. Natural
needs to be equal to or exceed the shocks such as tsunamis, storms and
processes of depreciation, degradation epidemics also reshape priorities in the
and loss in the system. Replacement short-term.
would not automatically take place and
Provided that national priorities do not
deliberate investment decisions are
change then the key barrier to
needed. On the other hand, climate
implementation of adaptation strategies
change poses dangers or irreversible
are weak institutions. Although the
losses to critical systems. Hence, a policy
adaptation strategies are clear most of
of prudent insurance is needed as well.
the organizations lack strategic direction
In order to make wise investment and and human, financial and technical
insurance decisions, signals need to be resources to implement them.
picked on the status of the systems, the Furthermore, lack of knowledge,
hazards and risk levels to the systems, education and awareness among the
how society currently uses the systems, public on the science and impacts of
and how the society has coped with risks climate change tends to reduce the
in the past. This requires the generation demand the public place on the
of information, fostering learning and government and private sector to supply
knowledge. In the NAPA the decision adaptation and mitigation to climate
processes are termed adaptation change.
strategies. The signals on the adaptation
In the project profiles in Chapter Seven of
needs of the society and the relative
the NAPA special attention has been
values of the adaptation strategies were
given to remove barriers to long-term
obtained through carefully planned
adaptation to climate change in the
expert analysis and regional and national
Maldives.
level stakeholder consultations. The key
adaptation needs as identified and
prioritised by stakeholders are listed in
Chapter Six.
7 Country Characteristics and National Development

Chapter III
Country Characteristics
and National Development

This chapter provides the background on (Figure 3.1). This chain is 860km long
geography, climate, society, the economy and the width varies between 80 to
and the national development goals. 120km. There are 1190 small tropical
islands out of which 358 islands are
3.1 Geography and climate being currently utilized mainly for human
settlements, infrastructure and economic
Maldives is an archipelago of 25 low- activities. The largest island is Gan in
lying coral atolls located in a north to Laamu Atoll which is barely 6km .
2

south direction on the Laccadives-Chagos


submarine ridge in the Indian Ocean Maldives has a tropical monsoon climate.

Figure 3.1: Location map of Maldives. The south-west monsoon is from May to
November and the north-east monsoon
Pakistan is from January to March. Daily
o
temperature varies between 31 C and
o
Saudi Arabia Myanmar 23 C. The mean daily maximum
India o
temperature is 30.4 C and the mean
o
Thailand daily minimum temperature is 25.7 C.
Humidity ranges from 73 to 85% (MEC,
2004; Meteorology, 2006).
Sri Lanka
MALDIVES The annual average rainfall for Maldives
Equator Indonesia is 2,124mm. Southern atolls on average
receive 2,277mm while northern atolls
I n d i a n O c e a n
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 8
Figure 3.2: Map of Maldives showing geographic and climate features

Hanimaadhoo Weather Station


Thiladhunmathi Atoll
35 350
Largest atoll in the world. Subdivided to
30 4 administrative units. Has numerous
300
7N reef passes, a feature prominent amongst
25 northern atolls.
250 2
Surface Area: 3788.71 km
Temperature (0C)

2
Reef Area: 500.70 km

Rainfall (mm)
20 200 Kulhudhuffushi 2
Land Area: 68.70 km
15 150 No. of Reefs: 164
No. of Islands: 167
10 100
6N
North Maalhosmadulu Atoll
5 50
One of the 11 atolls on the western line of
0 0
islands. It has an area of high faro density
J F M A M J J A S O N D within its lagoon, a feature most
Month commonly found in atolls of Maldives.
2
Surface Area: 1184.31 km
2
Reef Area: 223.50 km
Male International Airport 5N Land Area: 12.90 km
2

Weather Station No. of Reefs: 155


No. of Islands: 85
35 350
Kaashidhoo Atoll
30 Hulhumale
300 Known as an oceanic platform reef and
Male contains a single large island. There 4 of
25 250 4N these reefs in Maldives.
Surface Area: 9.54 km2
Temperature (0C)

Rainfall (mm)

20 200 Reef Area: 9.54 km2


2
Land Area: 12.2.89 km
15 150
No. of Reefs: 1
No. of Islands: 1
10 100

5 50 3N
Gan Island and Hadhdhunmathi Atoll
0 0 Largest island. This atoll also contains
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Month the largest total land area in any atoll.
2
Surface Area: 884.63 km
2
Reef Area: 203.70 km
2
Land Area: 25.27 km
2N
No. of Reefs: 56
Kadhoo No. of Islands: 130
Airport
Gan International Airport
Weather Station
Huvadhoo Atoll
35 Also known as Suvadhiva Atoll, it is the
350
2nd largest atoll and contains the most
1N number of islands.
30 300
Surface Area: 3278.59 km2
25 250 Reef Area: 437.90 km2
2
Thinadhoo Land Area: 33.45 km
Temperature (0C)

Rainfall (mm)

20 200 No. of Reefs: 210


Kaadedhoo
No. of Islands: 238
Airport
15 150

10 100 0N
Equator Islands
5 50
Reefs
0 0 Major weather stations
J F M A M J J A S O N D Hithadhoo
Month 0 20 60 100 Km
73E
9 Country Characteristics and National Development

Figure 3.3: Population distribution in year 2000 and 2006

Haa Alifu Atoll receive 1,786mm of rainfall annually.


14,141 Lowest annual rainfall recorded in the
13,272
Haa Dhaalu Atoll last 30 years is 1,346mm in 2002 at
16,863 Hanimaadhoo Weather Station and the
16,439
Shaviyani Atoll highest is 3,185mm in 1978 at Gan
11,391 International Airport Weather Station.
11,814
Noonu Atoll The highest rainfall recorded within 24
10,429 hours to date is 220mm on 9 July 2002
10,080
Raa Atoll at Kaadedhdhoo Weather Station
14,424
14,639 (Meteorology, 2006).
Lhaviyani Atoll
8,629
8,226 3.2 Society
Baa Atoll
9,172 The Maldivian society is perhaps unique
8,876
Kaafu Atoll in the world as a nation since everyone
83,507 speaks the same language and belongs to
113,878
North Alifu Atoll the same religion. Maldivians speak
4,840 Dhivehi and the contemporary
4,841
South Alifu Atoll population is culturally homogeneous
6,620 although originally from a varied ethnic
6,906
Vaavu Atoll mixture of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian,
1,649
1,504 Sinhalese and Arabs.
Faafu Atoll
3,779 Population of the Maldives passed the
3,624
Meemu Atoll 300,000 mark in July 2006. The
5,020 population growth rate is 1.8 per annum
4,654
Dhaalu Atoll (MPND, 2006). In 13 out of the 20
4,927 atolls the population declined in the
4,671
Thaa Atoll census period 2000-2006. Figure 3.3
9,302 shows the distribution of the population
8,536
Laamu Atoll by atoll.
11,497
12,018
Population size among the atolls and the
Gaafu Alifu Atoll
8,129 islands differs across the country. More
7,977
Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll than a third of the total population
11,840 numbering 104,403 persons lives in the
11,023
Gnaviyani Atoll capital Male'. Out of the atolls Seenu
7,528 Atoll has the highest population at
7,642
Seenu Atoll 17,922, while Vaavu Atoll has the lowest
18,499 population at 1,614 (MPND, 2006).
17,762
Apart from Male', there are only three
Population Yr 2000 Yr 2006 Population more than 5000
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 10

islands that have a population greater


than 5,000. They are Hithadhoo (Seenu
Atoll) with 9,407, Fuvahmulah
(Gnaviyani Atoll) with 7,642, and
Kulhudhufushi (Haa Dhaalu Atoll) with
7,206 persons. In 2006, the number of
islands that had a population between
5000 and 1000 people was 57, while
60 islands had between 1,000 and 500
people and 74 islands had a population
of less than 500 people.

From 1997 to 2004, there is evidence of


significant increases in income levels of
the people (MPND, 2006). The about 7% to the GDP. Agriculture plays a
headcount ratio shows that in 1997 the minor role in the economy and the
proportion of population having less than sector contributed only 2.8% to GDP in
Rf 15 per person per day was around 2000 (MPND, 2004).
45%, while by 2004 it had come down
to about 20%. Even though income levels 3.4 NAPA and National
has been increasing, income inequality
Development
between Male' and the atolls has
increased. There is also evidence that Synergy with national development goals
northern atolls are becoming poorer is one of the objectives of NAPA. In the
relative to southern atolls (MPND, selection and prioritization of adaptation
2005). activities NAPA uses development goals
in Vision 2020, Seventh National
3.3 Economy Development Plan (7NDP) and the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The annual gross domestic product (GDP)
increased from Rf 385 million in 1978 The Vision 2020 outlined by President
to Rf 7,934.0 million in 2005 (MPE, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on 26th July
1988; MMA, 2004). The estimates of 1999 provides the direction for
2005 show that tertiary sector sustainable development of the Maldives
dominates the GDP with 73%, while the and is the basis for current national
secondary and primary sectors contribute development policies. NAPA will
17% and 10% respectively (MPND, contribute to the achievement of the
2004). Tourism is the main economic Vision 2020, particularly through
activity and contributes about one third providing a planned approach to combat
to the GDP. Fisheries is the largest the climate change threat.
contributor to exports and contributes
11 Country Characteristics and National Development

The 7NDP lays down the development equal opportunity for education, life
policies and strategies of the Government long learning and training
for the period 2006 to 2010. The
7 Improve health and well-being
policies and strategies in the 7NDP are
targeted at improving the quality of life
8 Promote gender equality, family
for the people living in the Maldives,
values and youth development.
particularly the poor, the disadvantaged
and the vulnerable groups. A key 9 Safeguard the values, rights and
principle of the 7NDP is that the freedoms necessary to allow all to
development policies should not live a life of dignity.
compromise the ability of future
10 Promote access to justice, rule of law
generations to achieve non-declining per
and maximize public safety
capita well being. The proposed way
forward is optimal use of the available
11 Strengthen governance and national
natural resources and the protection of
security
critical natural capital such as water
resources, coral reefs and fish breeding At the United Nations Millennium
grounds. Summit held in September 2000,
Maldives along with other nations of the
The specific goals of the 7NDP are:
world committed to achieve the MDGs.
The eight broad goals and the 18 specific
1 Create an environment conducive for
targets to be achieved by 2015 are
growth and generate employment
designed to:
2 Enhance trade, support businesses
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and
and build competitive industries
hunger.
3 Invest in strategic and state-of-the
2. Achieve universal primary education.
art infrastructure to enable ease of
movement, enhanced access to
3. Promote gender equality and
services, and build competitive
empower women.
advantage
4. Reduce child mortality.
4 Create a built environment with
opportunities for equitable access to 5. Improve maternal health.
housing, sports, and recreation and
6. Combat HIV/AIDS malaria and other
preserve cultural heritage
diseases.
5 Protect the natural environment and
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
make people and property safer

8. Develop a global partnership for


6 Invest in people through providing
development.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 12

<image>

North harbour of Capital Male


13 Climate Change and Climate Variability

Chapter IV
Climate Change and
Climate Variability

Figure 4.1: Maximum hourly sea level, by year, and its linear The first component of the Maldives
trend for Hulhul (1989 to 2005).
Adaptation Framework (Figure 2.1)
750 described in Chapter Two is climate
Maximum Hourly Sea Level (mm)

700 change-related hazards. This chapter


650
summarises the global and national
600
550 predictions for climate hazards. The
500 hazards reviewed are sea level rise,
450
precipitation, temperature and extreme
400
350
events.
300
1989 1994 1999 2004 4.1 Sea level rise
Year

Source: MEEW (2006) The global mean sea level rose 10 to


Figure 4.2: Relationship between hourly sea level and return 20cm during the 20th century at the
period for Hulhul, based on observed hourly
sea level for 1989 to 2005 rate of 1to 2mm/year. Future sea level is
projected to rise within the range of 9 to
140
88cm between 1990 and 2100. Sea
120
level is projected to rise under all
Return Period (yr)

100
scenarios of IPCC Special Reports on
80
Emission Scenarios (SRES). The projected
60
average rate of increase is 5mm/year,
40
with a range of 2 to 9mm/year (IPCC
20
2001).
0
550 580 610 640 670 700
Hourly Sea Level (mm)

Source: MEEW (2006)


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 14

For Maldives, the observed long term Figure 4.3: Maximum daily rainfall, by year, for Hulhul
(1975 to 2005)
trend in relative sea level for Hulhul
200
(Male' International Airport Weather

Annual Maximum Daily Rainfall


180
Station) is 1.7mm/year. The maximum 160
140
hourly sea level is increasing by
120

(mm)
approximately 7mm/year, a rate far in 100
80
excess of the observed local and global 60
trends in mean sea level (Figure 4.1). 40
20
0
For Hulhul an hourly sea level of 70cm 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
above mean sea level (MSL) is currently a Year

100-year event. It will likely be at least Source: MEEW (2006)

an annual event by 2050 (Figure 4.2).


Figure 4.4: Relationship between daily rainfall and return
period for Hulhul, based on observed daily rainfall
4.2 Precipitation for 1975 to 2005

400
Global average water vapour
concentration and precipitation are
Return Period (yr)

300
projected to increase during the 21st
200
century (IPCC, 2001). A marginal decline
in precipitation is projected for the 100

Indian Ocean region (Nurse and Sem,


0
2001). 80 100 120 140 160 180
Daily Rainfall (mm)
In the case of Maldives, no significant
Source: MEEW (2006)
long term trends are evident in the
observed daily, monthly, annual or
maximum daily rainfall (Figure 4.3).
4.3 Temperature
Currently a daily rainfall of at least
The global average surface temperature
160mm is a relatively rare event at
is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8C
Hulhul, with a return period of 17
over the period 1990 to 2100. The
years. An extreme daily rainfall of
projected rate of warming is much larger
180mm is currently a 100-year event. It
than the observed changes during the
will likely occur twice as often, on
20th century (IPCC, 2001). For the
average, by 2050. An extreme three-
Indian Ocean region, temperature is
hourly rainfall of 100mm is currently a
expected to increase by 2.1C for the
25-year event. It will likely become at
2050s and 3.2C for the 2080s (Nurse
least twice as common, on average, by
and Sem, 2001).
around 2050 (Figure 4.4).
15 Climate Change and Climate Variability

For Maldives, there is relatively high (Male' International Airport Weather


confidence in projections of maximum Station) have been steadily increasing
temperature. The annual maximum daily across seasons and the rising rates are
temperature is projected to increase by very high. The annual mean SST trends at
around 1.5C by 2100. A maximum Hulhule and Gan are 0.2C and 1.1 to
temperature of 33.5C is currently a 20- 1.6C/decade respectively. The higher
year event. It will likely have a return trends observed for Gan maybe due to
period of three years by 2025. Gan being located near the equator.

The present average monthly Sea Surface During May 1998 mean monthly SST was
o
Temperature (SST) in the Maldives ranges 1.1 C above the highest mean monthly
o o
from 28 C to 29 C, rarely increasing SST expected in any 20 year return period
above 30C. Mean monthly SST is lowest (Clark et al. 2001).
in December and January reaching its
highest in April and May. 4.4 Extreme events

An increasing trend in SST has been Greater extremes of drying and heavy
observed in the Maldives (Singh et al. rainfall is projected, increasing the risk of
2001; Khan et al. 2002). Large seasonal droughts and floods especially during El
variations in the SST trends were Nino events (IPCC 2001). Tropical
observed at Gan (Gan International cyclones are predicted to be enhanced in
Airport) in Seenu Atoll. SST and Mean intensity by 10 to 20% (Nurse and Sem
Tide Level (MTL) trends at Hulhule 2001).

Table 4.1: Probable maximum storm tide

Return Period Pressure Storm Surge Average Tide Storm Tide


(Years) drop (hPa) Height (m) height (m) (m)

100 20 0.84 0.98 1.82


500 30 1.32 0.98 2.3
Source: UNDP (2006)

Table 4.2: Probable maximum storm tide by region

Storm Surge Average Tide Storm Tide


Hazard Zone
Height (m) Height (m) (m)
Southern Atolls - - 0
Central-west Islands 0.45 0.93 1.38
Central-east Islands 0.6 0.93 1.53
Northwest Islands 0.99 0.98 1.97
NorthEast Islands 1.32 0.98 2.3
Source: UNDP (2006)
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 16

Table 4.3: Storm tide estimates for medium and high sea level rise scenarios

Storm Tides at
Present Day Predicted SLR
Scenarios 2080-2100
Average
Storm Surge Storm Medium High
Zone Tide Height
Height (m) Tide (m) (0.48m) (0.88m)
(m)
Southern Atolls - 0.93 NA NA NA
Central-west Islands 0.45 0.93 1.38 1.86 2.26
Central-east Islands 0.6 0.93 1.53 2.01 2.41
Northwest Islands 0.99 0.98 1.97 2.45 2.85
NorthEast Islands 1.32 0.98 2.3 2.78 3.18
Source: UNDP (2006) and Shaig (2006)

According to the Disaster Risk Profile for medium prediction, enough to


Maldives (UNDP, 2006), maximum completely inundate a medium to small
storm surge height is reported to be sized island in the Maldives. A storm
1.32m with a return period of 500 years. surge at high prediction could cause a
If coupled with high tide, it could 3.18m wave that could inundate even
generate a storm tide of 2.30m (Table the largest of islands. These surges do not
4.1). take into account regular monsoonal
wind generated flooding which is
The probable maximum storm tide by
considered the most common in
region in Table 4.2 shows that the
Maldives (Shaig, 2006; UNDP, 2006).
islands in the northeast of the Maldives
could face storm tides of 2.30m in
height.

The study also reported the forecasted


maximum storm tides for different
regions of the Maldives based on
medium and high sea level rise scenarios
(Table 4.3).

Based on these assumptions, scenarios,


and given that the average height of
Maldivian islands is 1.5m above MSL, sea
level rise would cause regular tidal
inundations in most islands even at the
medium prediction. The high prediction
could cause inundations recurrently in
almost all islands. Storm surges can
create up to 2.78m waves under
17 Climate Change and Climate Variability

Figure 4.5: Cyclone tracks over Maldives between 1877-2004 Maldives lies out of the tropical cyclone
zone due to its proximity to equator.
10N
However, there have been incidents from
India
the past where cyclonic storms have
passed over Maldives and their still
8N
remain the probability for future such
events. Figure 4.5 shows the tracks of
cyclonic system over Maldives in 128
6N years.

There is a clear pattern of northern


Maldives being exposed to more frequent
4N
freak storms than the south. Table 4.4
shows the predicted return periods for
MALDIVES cyclonic activity based on historical
2N
records of wind data. Currently an
I n d i a n O c e a n extreme wind gust of 60 knots has a
return period of 16 years. It is estimated
0N that this will reduce to 9 years by 2025
(MEEW 2006). The cyclonic wind hazard
69E

75E
73E

77E
71E

zone mapping predicts category 3


cyclone for the northern Maldives in a
Table 4.4: Return period of wind speeds associated with cyclones 500 year return period (Table 4.5)
in Maldives
(UNDP 2006).
Wind Speed Return periods
Type
(knots) (years)
Tropical Depression 28-33 10-20
Tropical Depression 34+ 23
Cyclone 65+ 134.6
Source: UNDP (2006)

Table 4.5: Cyclone hazard zone in Maldives and the probable maximum
wind speed

Probable Maximum Saffir-Simpson Scale


Hazard Zone
Wind Speed (knots) (Hurricane Category)

Southern Maldives 0 0
South Central 55.9 0
Central 69.6 1
North Central 84.2 2
Northern Maldives 96.8 3
Source: UNDP (2006)
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 18

Chapter V
Vulnerabilities and Impacts

The second component of the Maldives The impacts on the vulnerable systems
Adaptation Framework (Figure 2.1) are described in this chapter for the high
described in Chapter Two is vulnerable risk sectors identified through the V&A
systems. This chapter presents the assessment process. These are (i) Land,
vulnerabilities inherent in the different Beach and Human Settlements; (ii)
components of the natural, human and Critical Infrastructure; (ii) Tourism; (iv)
produced systems to the climate hazards Fisheries; (v) Human Health; (vi) Water
described in Chapter Four and the Resources; (vii) Agriculture and Food
predicted impacts of climate change on Security and, (viii) Coral Reef Biodiversity.
the Maldives.

Vulnerability assessments were


undertaken for critical components of
the systems and stakeholder
consultations were conducted to
complete hazard-vulnerabilities-impacts
matrices and verify the results. The
assessments and consultations showed
how the vulnerabilities in the
components interact with the climate
hazards to impact key development
sectors.
19 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

5.1 Land, Beach and Human Settlements latest satellite and aerial imagery. This
land is divided over 1192 coral islands
The small size, extremely low elevation
and 96% of the islands are less than
and unconsolidated nature of the coral 2
1km in area (Figure 5.1). Only 10
islands place the people and their 2
islands are more than 2.5km . The
livelihoods at very high risk from climate
largest island Gan (Laamu Atoll), has an
change, particularly sea level rise. 2
area of 6.1km (Table 5.1). Land is highly

Maldives is the sixth smallest sovereign scarce and the 358 islands that are
2
state in terms of land area. The total land currently in use account for 176km . The

area of the Maldives is estimated to be 834 unutilised islands make up only


2
2
approximately 235km , based on the 59km .

Figure 5.1: Island size and land utilization across Maldives

100.0%
83.3
80.3
80.0% 67.7

60.0%

40.0% 24.5 19
19.4 19.6 20.7
20.0%
10.5
8.8
5.6 7.1 % of total
0.0% 2.8 % of islan area utilised
0.6 ds utilised
1-25ha

0.3 % of Total
25-50ha

50-100ha

Land Area
100-250ha

% of Total
250-500ha

500+ha

Islands

Source: Shaig (2006)

Table 5.1: Largest inhabited and uninhabited islands of Maldives

Inhabited Islands Uninhabited Islands


2 2
Rank Island Atoll Area (km ) Island Atoll Area (km )
1 Gan Laamu 6.13 Gan Seenu 2.89
2 Hithadhoo Seenu 5.26 Gan Gaafu Dhaalu 2.51
3 Fuvahmulah Gnaviyani 5.01 Kaadedhdhoo Gaafu Dhaalu 1.87
4 Isdhoo Laamu 3.73 Madidhoo Shaviyani 1.07
5 Hanimaadhoo Haa Dhaalu 3.04 Kadhdhoo Laamu 1.03
6 Kaashidhoo Kaafu 2.81 Kalhufahalafushi Thaa 1.03
7 Filladhoo Haa Alifu 2.70 Maafahi Haa Alifu 1.02
8 Baarah Haa Alifu 2.68 Maavaarulu Gaafu Dhaalu 0.98
9 Kedhikolhudhoo Noonu 2.15 Keylakunu Haa Dhaalu 0.91
10 Nolhivaramu Haa Dhaalu 2.10 Farukolhu Shaviyani 0.88
Source: Shaig (2006)
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 20

Over 80% of the total land area of the


Maldives is less than 1m above MSL. The
highest point recorded in the country is a
beach ridge at Fuvahmulah (Gnaviyani
Atoll), with an elevation of 4m above
MSL (MHAHE 2001). As future sea level
is projected to rise within the range of 9
to 88cm between 1990 and 2100, the
islands of Maldives would be submerged
in the projected worst case scenario.

The coral islands that make up the


Maldives are morphologically unstable
and change in their size, shape, elevation
and position on reef platforms over time. Most of the islands in Maldives are barely 1m
The beaches of these islands are above the sea level. Under the predicted worst
case sea level rise scenario, most of Maldives
particularly dynamic with substantial could be inundated.
seasonal changes. At present, the total
low elevation also makes human
2
beach area is estimated at 13km or 5%
settlements defenseless against severe
of the total land area and the coastline of
weather events and storm surges. Over
the Maldives is estimated to be 2,300km
the last 6 years more than 90 inhabited
long (Shaig 2006).
islands have been flooded at least once

The small size of the islands forces and 37 islands have been flooded

people to live next to the sea. At present, regularly or at least once a year (Shaig

44% of the settlement footprints of all 2006). The severe weather event of May

islands are within 100m of coastline. 2004 alone caused flooding in 71

This translates to 42% of the population inhabited islands (MEC 2004). The

and 47% of all housing structures being tsunami wave of December 2004

within 100m of coastline. More than flooded all but nine islands and required

50% of the housing structures in 121 evacuation of 13 islands (MPND 2005).

islands are within 100m of coastline Since housing designs, structures and

(Shaig 2006). Only Nolhivaramu (Haa materials are not adapted to flooding, it

Dhaalu), has all its housing structures exacerbates the vulnerability (UNEP

100m away from the coastline. Given the 2005). The flooring of houses does not

close proximity of the settlements to the have adequate elevation from the ground

sea and low elevation of the islands, and because of the poor construction

homes of people are at severe risk of material used for housing structures,

inundation with higher sea levels. higher frequency and increase in


intensity of flooding could make these
The small size of the islands and their islands uninhabitable.
21 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

inhabited islands. More than 45% of the


87 tourist resorts have reported severe
erosion (Shaig, 2006). Although beach
erosion can be attributed to a number of
factors, changes in climatic conditions is
known to exacerbate erosion (Nurse and
Coastal Erosion Image Sem, 2001). In the Maldives the intensity
and duration of northeast and southwest
monsoons affect beach erosion patterns.
Further aggravation of erosion through
elevated sea level and storm surges
would cause significant loss and damage
to people's property, tourist resorts,
valuable land and critical infrastructure.
The beaches that represent 5% of the
total land area of the Maldives, are of Human pressures also increase the
unconsolidated nature and naturally vulnerability of the land and beaches to
dynamic and unstable. More than 97% of predicted climate change. The population
inhabited islands reported beach erosion of the country has increased by four-fold
in 2004, of which 64% reported severe since 1911 and overcrowding is a
beach erosion (Figure 9). Erosion significant problem. Already 34 of the
patterns of inhabited islands have been inhabited islands do not have additional
further complicated due to human land for new housing and another 17
intervention in coastal areas. The islands will reach their carrying capacity
problem of erosion is not specific to by 2015 (Shaig, 2006). Land

Figure 5.2: Extent of coastal erosion in Maldives

100%

80%
Proportion of Islands

60%

40%

20%

0%
HDh
Sh
N
R
B
Lh
K
AA
ADh
V
M
F
Dh
Th
L
Ga
GDh
S
Ha

Atoll
Islands with severe erosion Islands with moderate erosion
No significant erosion

Source: VPA II (2004)


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 22

reclamation work has been carried out to


alleviate population pressure on land.
Table 5.2 lists some of the major land
reclamation projects in the last 30 years.
Hulhumale' (Kaafu Atoll) is the largest
land reclamation project where
2
approximately 2km was reclaimed to
reduce population pressure on Male'.

Apart from land reclamation, several


other human activities have increased
the vulnerability of land, beaches and
human settlements. They include
construction of poorly designed coastal
infrastructure, poorly engineered coastal
A number of human Activities have in the past contributed to increase
protection measures, removal of coastal the vulnerability of islands.
vegetation, and sand mining. Coral reefs
smallness of the islands and extreme low
have a critical coastal protection
elevation makes retreat inland or to
function, yet there have been a number
higher grounds impossible. Building
of human stresses on the reef system
setback has limited utility and beach
such as coral mining, reef entrance
replenishment may only be a temporary
blasting, dredging, solid waste disposal
remedy for beach loss. Unless expensive
and sewage disposal that has affected the
coastal protection measures are
health, integrity and productivity of the
undertaken the human settlements face
reefs.
the threat of inundation.
The scarcity of land in the Maldives, the

Table 5.2: Major land reclamation activities in Maldives

Area Reclaimed % Reclaimed


Island Atoll 2 1 Rationale
(Km ) (Present Island)

Hulumale' Kaafu 1.89 100% Population Pressure


Male' Kaafu 0.82 41% Population Pressure
Maamigili Alifu Dhaalu 0.80 51% Economic and infrastructure
Hulhule Kaafu 0.76 58% Infrastructure
Thinadhoo Gaafu Dhaalu 0.66 60% Population Pressure
Hithadhoo Seenu 0.53 10% Population Pressure
Thilafushi Kaafu 0.49 100% Infrastructure
Naifaru Lhaviyani 0.37 68% Population Pressure
Thulhaadhoo Baa 0.14 66% Population Pressure
Hinnavaru Lhaviyani 0.12 54% Population Pressure
Source: Shaig (2006)
23 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

5.2 Critical Infrastructure in Laamu and Seenu Atoll (Shaig, 2006).

Significant investments have been made Tourism infrastructure in the 87 resorts

to develop infrastructure in the country. with 21,156 beds makes up the bulk of

At present there are five airports of economic infrastructure both in terms of

which two are international. Three major investment value and quantity. Each

commercial sea ports have been resort has its own power generation,

developed in the Male', Kulhudhuffushi water production and sewerage system.

(Haa Dhaalu Atoll) and Hithadhoo (seenu More than 1200 over-water structures

Atoll). More than 128 island harbours have been developed as guest rooms,

have been developed by year 2006 in spas and restaurants in tourist resorts

inhabited islands, resorts, airports and (Shaig, 2006).

islands leased for economic and


Other critical infrastructure includes
administrative purposes. There are at
environmental services and utilities.
least 350 piers in resorts and inhabited
There are waste management systems,
islands. The main causeways are located
sewerage systems and erosion mitigation
measures such as near-shore breakwaters
and groynes. Utilities infrastructure
include powerhouses and desalination
plants and their distribution systems
(Shaig, 2006).

The location of infrastructure within close


proximity to the coastline makes them
highly vulnerable to sea level rise and
storm conditions. The infrastructure of
the two international airports is within
50m of the coastline. About 30% of the
infrastructure of Male' International
Airport lies within this range and
additional land reclamation done on the
island towards the ocean-ward side has
resulted in parts of the island being
within 15m of the wave break zone
(Shaig, 2006).

More than 90% of all resort


infrastructure and 99% of all tourist
accommodation, which make up the
Male International Airport: One of the most vulnerable and most crucial economic product of the
critical infrastructure in Maldives
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 24

country, are within 100m of coastline. the predicted rise in sea level and
The average width of a tourist resort is increased frequency and intensity of
190m while 63% of resort islands have a extreme weather, the critical
width less than 200m and 88% have less infrastructure such as airports, harbours,
than 300m. Furthermore, 70% of all coastal protection structures, tourist
fisheries infrastructure are within 100m facilities, hospitals, schools and utilities
of coastline where proximity to beach is are at high risk. If appropriate adaptation
taken as an advantage (Shaig 2006). measures are not taken, frequent
inundations could virtually obliterate the
The average width of inhabited islands is
critical infrastructure damaging the
566m resulting in all infrastructures built
within 233m maximum from the
coastline. In both inhabited islands and
resorts 80% of the powerhouses are
located within 100m of coastline. Also,
90% of the islands have their waste
disposal sites within 100m of coastline
and on the ocean-ward side of the island.
More than 75% of communications
infrastructures are located within 100m
from the coastline. In addition, land
reclamation on some islands have caused
settlements and associated infrastructure
to be located close to the coastline
(Shaig, 2006).

All infrastructures on an island are at the


low elevation of 1.5m above mean sea
level (MSL). Over-water structures in
resorts are built above the high tide and
require high investment costs. The
average height of the causeways and
bridges is 1.6m above MSL. Guidelines
for setting up powerhouses require the
generator sets to be placed on concrete
pads usually 6 to12 inches high (Shaig,
2006).

In the location, design and construction


of infrastructure climate change hazards
Top: Male Port, Bottom: An island harbour. Ports and harbours are considered
have not been taken into account. With on the most critical infrastructures vulnerable to climate change in Maldives
25 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

economy threatening safety and security 5.3 Tourism


of the people. The scale and magnitude
of damage that may be caused to Tourism with 87 resorts and 21,156
infrastructure can be deduced from beds is the most dominant and fastest
historical records. growing economic sector in the Maldives
(MPND, 2004). In December 2004,
The flooding event of 1987 caused tourist arrivals reached more than
damages worth US$4.5 million to the 600,000 within a calendar year (MoT,
Male' International Airport alone 2005). Tourism contributes about one
(MHAHE, 2001). During tsunami waves third to the GDP and accounts for
of 2004, over-water structures in resorts 17,000 direct jobs (World Bank et al.
were amongst the most impacted and 2005). The sector also provides indirect
the total damage estimated for the employment and other opportunities in
tourism sector was US$230 million transport, communication, agriculture,
(World Bank et al. 2005). The damage to distribution and construction as well as
transport and communications in the more dispersed local economies.
infrastructures were estimated to be The tourism industry, directly and
US$20.3 million where 4,200m length indirectly accounts for a high portion of
of quay wall and 15,000m of government revenues. Lease payments
harbour/sea walls and breakwaters were from hotel projects were US$48 million
damaged or destroyed (World Bank et al. in 2004 with bed and departure taxes
2005). contributing US$41 million and custom
duties another US$43 million (World
Bank et al. 2005). The tourism sector is
expected to grow significantly over the
next five years with the opening of 53
new resorts with an additional 10,000
beds (MPND, 2006).

The marine biological diversity, tropical


climate, small island environment and
the world-class hotels are the unique
marketable assets of the tourism sector.
The reef ecosystems of Maldives are the
seventh largest in the world and their
diversity is amongst the richest in the
world. The sun-sand-and-sea product is
An over-water bungalow in a tourist resort. Tourism the mainstay of tourism in the Maldives
infrastructures are extremely vulnerable to climate change
and climate is a key determinant in
due their close proximity to beach areas.
choosing the Maldives as a destination.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 26

White sandy beaches, swaying coconut


palms and lush tropical vegetation are
essential components of the image of the
Maldives tourism. Investments in a resort
range from US$10 million for an average
tourist resort with 200 beds to over US$
40 million for modern high-end resort
(MHAHE, 2001). According to the World
Travel Awards 2006, Maldives is the
World's Leading Dive Destination and
Indian Ocean's Leading Destination
(World Travel Awards, 2006).

Climate change influences the viability


and profitability of tourism, both directly
2001). Saltwater intrusion will impact
and indirectly. In the Maldives one resort
the groundwater lens in resorts affecting
is one island and these small tropical
the tropical vegetation. The present
tourist resorts are among the most
investments in tourist resort
vulnerable and least defensible in the
infrastructure exceed US$1 billion and
world. The resort islands are vulnerable
loss, or even under-utilization, of such
due to its smallness, low elevation and
infrastructure due to climate variability
geographical dispersion. The tourist
and change will devastate the Maldivian
resort islands are extremely small with
economy. Vulnerability of tourism to
73 out of the 87 resorts being less than
extreme events is evident as shown by
0.1km2 while the largest tourist resort is
the combined cost to tourist resorts and
just 0.5km2 (Shaig, 2006). The average
loss of Government revenue from the
elevation of tourist resorts is 1.5m above
tourism sector as a result of the Indian
MSL. The tourist resorts are distributed
Ocean tsunami in excess of US$300
along a length of 830km.
million (MPND, 2005).
The tourist resorts are already
Snorkelling and diving are the two main
experiencing damage to the environment
tourist activities. At any resort at any
and natural resources that are consistent
given time 70to 80% of tourists are
with climate change. One of the most
snorkellers while 25 to 35% of tourists
important assets of tourist resorts is
visit the Maldives primarily for diving
beaches with 70% of tourists visiting the
(Westmacott, 1996). Assuming 1.5 dives
Maldives primarily for beach holidays.
for every tourist arrival (Anderson, 1997)
Sea level rise would disrupt tourism
the total number of annual dives in
through loss of beaches. Already 45% of
2006 is estimated at about one million.
tourist resorts have reported varying
The earning from a single dive ranges
degrees of beach erosion (MHAHE,
27 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

coral reefs of a popular shark diving spot


in 1995 and 1996 reduced the number
of divers resulting in a loss of revenue of
US$500,000 in a single year (Anderson,
1997). Coral reefs are not only
economically important to the tourism
sector in terms of the aesthetic value and
Coral reef and diving ecosystem services they provide, they
also represent natural sea-defence acting
to buffer beaches from wave action and
other oceanic forces. Increased bleaching
coupled with reduced calcification will
affect coral growth and reef integrity and,
reduce the ability of the reef to keep up
with sea level rise.

The additional risks to tourism are in


many cases indirect, with the initial
from US$45 to 55. Coral reefs thrive in a
impacts being imposed on the
narrow temperature range and are highly
infrastructure, fisheries, water resources,
sensitive to changes in temperature.
agriculture and human health. For
Given the current predictions for increase
example, over 99% of tourists arrive to
in SST and the observed relatively more
the Maldives by air and Male'
frequent or persistent El Nino episodes,
International Airport is the only entry
coral bleaching is expected to rise rapidly
point by air. The airport sea defenses are
and significantly (IPCC, 2001). Coral
barely adequate and any damage to the
bleaching events occurred in the
international airport by climate change
Maldives in 1977, 1983, 1987, 1991,
and sea level rise will cause extreme loss
1995, 1997 and 1998, with the latter
to the tourism sector.
being the most severe. Almost all the
shallow reefs in the country were Climate projections for the Maldives,
impacted in 1998 and on average live including those related to variability and
coral cover before and after the extreme events, indicate increasing
bleaching was approximately 45% and likelihood of conditions detrimental to
5%, respectively (MHAHE, 2001). Coral the tourism sector. The consequences of
bleaching events will have significant climate change will be felt not only
implications for the tourism sector. within the tourism sector but also by the
individuals, communities, enterprises and
Climate change and its various impacts
entire sectors that are in turn dependent
on marine biological diversity pose a
on tourism. At the same time adverse
significant risk to tourism. Damage to
climatic conditions will impact on the
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 28

tourist experience and, in extreme Figure 5.3: Export revenue for tuna and reef fish / other varieties,
1998 -2005.
situations, on tourists' health and safety
and on the reputation of the country as a
10o
tourist destination.
8o

Millions US$
5.4 Fisheries 6o

4o
Fisheries is a critical component of the
economy. More than 20% of the 2o
population depend on fisheries as the
o
major income earning activity. Fisheries 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
is also the most dominant in terms of Year
employment of the local labour force Tuna Reef Fish & Other Varieties
employing over 15,000 fishermen and
Source: Adam (2006), Note: 2005 data is preliminary
contributes 7% to the GDP. Fish,
particularly tuna, is the primary source of
Fisheries industry is highly vulnerable to
dietary protein for the Maldivians and
climate change as tuna is highly attuned
tuna is served daily in every meal (Adam,
to the biophysical conditions of the
2006).
pelagic environment, particularly ENSO
and associated changes in SST. During
The total fish catch was 186,000 metric
the 1997/1998 El Nino the Indian
tons in 2005 and export revenue then
Ocean purse seine fishery was shifted to
stood at over US$100 million (Figure
the east, unlike other years owing to the
5.3). Tuna and tuna-related species
elevated depth of the 20degC isotherm
accounted for approximately 89% of the
(Adam, 2006). In the Maldives during
total fish catch and tuna products
the El Nino years, catch rates of skipjack
provided US$97 million of fish export
tuna are depressed while catches of
revenue. Skipjack tuna makes up 71% of
yellowfin tuna are elevated and the
total fish catch followed by yellowfin
effect is reversed in La Nina years (Adam
tuna at 13%. These two fishery are
and Anderson 1996; Adam and
significant even at the Indian Ocean wide
Anderson, 1996).
catch levels, representing 20% and 7%
respectively. In the Maldives, fish other
Tuna movement and abundance in the
than tuna species are classified as reef
Indian Ocean is closely linked to the
fish. In 2005, 11% of the fish catch was
climate driven ocean productivity (Adam,
reef fish and contributed US$7 million to
2006). The Somali Basin and the north
the fish export revenue (Adam, 2006;
Arabian Sea is particularly productive
MPND, 2006).
during the southwest monsoon. The
recent trend of declining winter and
spring snow cover over Eurasia is causing
29 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

catch a kilogram of livebait is required


which approximates to 21,000 tons of
livebait each year (Adam, 2006).
Without adequate and continuous supply
of livebait pole-and-line fishery will not
exist in the Maldives. The bait is taken
from small schooling varieties associated
with the coral reefs. The most popular
species are silver sprats, fusiliers and
cardinal fish.

The habitats for livebait are coral reef


systems that are highly vulnerable to
changes in SST and other climate
a land ocean thermal gradient that is changes. This has significant implications
particularly favourable to stronger for the availability of livebait as shown by
southwest monsoons. Such favourable the 1998 coral bleaching event when
conditions have caused over 300% abundance of long nose file fish
increase in phytoplankton biomass in the (Ocymonocanthus longirostris) rapidly
area (Goes et al. 2005). These in turn declined. This particular species is an
could have profound implications for obligate corralivore and the rapid demise
tuna distribution and abundance in the of the live corals had an impact on their
Indian Ocean (Adam, 2006). survival (Adam, 2006).

As tuna fishery of Maldives is part of the Improved access to export markets and
wider Indian Ocean tuna fisheries, increasing demand from tourist resorts
climate-induced changes and fishery makes reef fishery an important source
overexploitation occurring elsewhere may of livelihood for atoll communities.
have local repercussions (Adam, 2006). Groupers, live-tropical fish and sea-
The most recent assessments of the tuna cucumber are fished exclusively for
stock in Indian Ocean revealed that export while lobsters and other reef fish
yellowfin tuna stock is considered to are harvested to meet demands of
have reached maximum sustainable tourism sector. Natural or anthropogenic
levels (IOTC, 2005). disturbances on coral reefs are known to
cause changes in community structure
The dependency of pole-and-line tuna
and species resilience which has
fishery method on livebait makes the
implications to the reef fishery. For
tuna fishery further vulnerable to climate
example, Gobiodon citrinus and
change and variability. Live bait is a pre-
Ocymonocanthus, two reef fish species
requisite for the pole and line fishery in
disappeared from exports after the 1998
the Maldives. For every 7 to 10kg of tuna
coral bleaching event. Both species feed
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 30

predominantly on acropora polyps which Meemu, Alifu and Lhaviyani atolls while
were most affected during the bleaching. fish catch per reef area is highest in
Human stresses such as overexploitation, Gaafu Dhaalu, Thaa and Laamu Atolls
catch of immature fish and fishery during (Figure 5.4). The capital investments in
spawning periods exacerbates the fisheries are increasing rapidly with the
vulnerability of reef fishery. privatization of the fisheries making the
fisheries dependent island communities
The fisheries catch data shows there are
particularly vulnerable.
geographic variations in fish catch which
makes population of particular atolls Decline in tuna fishery will have direct
more vulnerable to the impact of climate implications on food security in the
change on fisheries than others. Highest Maldives. Fish is the main source of
catch per capita is seen in Gaafu Dhaalu, protein and local consumption of fish

Figure 5.4: Relative estimates of fish catch by atoll units in terms of population and reef area

Fish catch per population Fish catch per Reef Area


Per capita catch Catch per reef area
(tons per person per year) (tons per SqKm per year)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Note: Reef areas are those


reported by Naseer & Hatcher
(2004)
Fish catches are total national
landings reported by MoFAMR
and populations estimates from
Census (2006), Ministry of
Planning and National
Development.

(Source: (Adam 2006))


31 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

exceeds 50,000 metric tons (MPND, neonatal tetanus, whooping cough and
2006). Reef fish is a significant item of diphtheria have been successfully
the tourist resort cuisine and impacts on eliminated while non-communicable
reef fishery will affect tourism and diseases such as heart disease, diabetes,
communities who depend on reef fishery hypertension, cancer and renal diseases
as a source of income. have emerged as major health concerns
in recent years. Furthermore, the
5.5 Human Health Maldives has one of the highest known
incidences of Thalassaemia in the world
The health status of the Maldivian with one out of every six Maldivians
population has improved significantly being a Thalassaemia carrier. Added to
over the last two decades. In 2005, the this is the growing problem of accidents
infant mortality rate was 12, maternal and injuries leading to death and
mortality was less than 1 per thousand disabilities.
and life expectancy was 72.2 years. The
population per practising doctor was 775 Despite the improvement in health status
in 2005 (MHAHE, 2002; MPND, 2006). the country still experiences high
incidences of water- and vector-borne
Maldives is now in a transition phase diseases that are attributed to climate
from communicable to non- change. Although mortality due to
communicable diseases. Communicable diarrhoea and acute respiratory
diseases such as malaria and vaccine infections has been reduced to zero, they
preventable diseases such as polio, continue to cause significant morbidity to
children and adults, indicating

Figure 5.5: Incidence of acute gastroenteritis in the Maldives 2000-2005 inadequate access to safe water and
sanitation. The number of cases of acute
18000
gastroentritis increased by 50% from
16000
10,000 cases in 2004 to 15,000 cases
No. of reported cases

14000
in 2005 (Figure 5.5).
12000
10000
Changes in temperature and rainfall
8000
regimes are causing higher incidence of
6000
vector-borne diseases. There is evidence
4000
that dengue outbreaks are becoming
2000
more frequent and it appears that there
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 is an association with ENSO events. The
Year first outbreak of dengue occurred in
Male < 5 Male > 5 Atoll < 5 1979, the second in 1983 and the third
Atoll > 5 Republic < 5 Republic > 5 1988 which was the worst with 2054
cases of dengue fever and nine deaths in
Source: Epidemiological Surveillance Records - DPH, Moosa (2006)
children under 10 years. After that for 10
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 32

years there were no outbreaks until the Figure 5.6: Incidence of dengue in Maldives 2000-2006

next occurred in 1998 with a total of 350


1750 cases and no reported death.
300
Since 1998 every year cases have been
250

No. of reported cases


reported from Maldives and there is
continued high prevalence from mid
200
2005 (Figure 5.6). In 2005 the case
150
load increase is about 52% with as
compared to 2004. 100

50
Among the other vector-borne diseases
of public health concern, Scrub Typhus 0
J F M A M J J A S O N D
which was endemic 60 years ago re-
Month
emerged in 2002 (Figure 5.7) with
2000 2001 2002 2003
mortality rates as high as 10% (Moosa 2004 2005 2006
2006). Chikungunya was for the first
Source: Epidemiological Surveillance Records (Dept of Public Health)
time diagnosed in December 2006 and
reached epidemic proportions. In
Figure 5.7: Incidence of scrub typhus in Maldives 2000-2005
addition to these climate related
communicable diseases there has been 50
an increase in the conditions of the skin, 45
40
subcutaneous tissue and eye that has
No. of reported cases

35
close linkages to climate change caused 30
by increase exposure to UV radiation. 25
20
The islands of the Maldives are a mere 15

1.5m above MSL which makes them 10


5
highly vulnerable to flooding and
0
salinization of freshwater supplies due to J F M A M J J A S O N D
Month
rise in sea level. The islands are also
2002 2003 2004 2005
vulnerable to storms and cyclones that
can adversely affect water supplies. Source: Epidemiological Surveillance Records (Dept of Public Health)
Water-borne diseases such as shigella
could increase as a result of disruption of the tsunami. Evidence also shows that
sewage and water systems due to people in the atolls are more vulnerable
flooding. The high level of risk to the to diarrhoeal diseases than in Male' and
health of the population from climate this disparity is more pronounced in
change related water-borne diseases is children under five years (Moosa 2006).
evident from the 50% increase in the
number of flooding related
gastroenteritis cases in 2005 following
33 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

The nutritional status of children varies


across the atolls and in 2004 the
prevalence of underweight in children
under five years of age was estimated at
27%. The forecasts are that one in four
children may still be underweight in
Maldives in 2015. Even though there are
6 regional hospitals, 10 atoll hospitals,
65 atoll health centres and 52 health
posts the population in the remote
islands face difficulty in getting access to
healthcare delivery system, and during
bad weather medical evacuation is
almost impossible. With more frequent
extreme weather events, significant
At present 18% of inhabited islands
mortality and morbidity will be a serious
experience rainfall and/or ocean-induced
challenge to the atoll population
flooding at least once a year (Shaig
(Mohamed 2006).
2006). With the projected increase in
sea level and higher frequency of
Climate change related impacts on
extreme events incidents of flooding is
fisheries and agriculture, threaten food
likely to be more frequent and severe.
security in the Maldives. Such impacts
Increased flooding coupled with
will have direct effect on nutrition status
increased surface air temperature will
of children and overall health of the
cause higher incidence of vector-borne
population. Impacts on infrastructure
diseases in the Maldives. Already the
and human settlement during extreme
vector-borne disease dengue has spread
events could cause physical injury to the
to the atolls at epidemic proportions.
people.
Children and the population living in
remote islands where diagnostic and
5.6 Water Resources
treatment facilities are lacking are
particularly vulnerable to the climate Groundwater is a scarce resource because
related vector-borne diseases. of the hydrogeology of the country. The
freshwater aquifer lying beneath the
The vulnerability to climate change
islands is a shallow lens, 1 to 1.5m
related health risks is further
below the surface and no more than a
compounded by local characteristics such
few meters thick. Surface freshwater is
as the high level of malnutrition in
lacking throughout the country with the
children, accessibility and quality of
exception of a few swampy areas in some
healthcare, high population congestion
islands. Traditionally people depended on
and low income levels (Moosa 2006).
shallow wells to get access to the
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 34

groundwater lens for drinking water.


However, 90% of the atoll households
now use rainwater as the principal source
of drinking water. In Male', 100% of the
population has access to piped
desalinated water. Following the tsunami
38 islands have been provided with
desalination plants that are being
operated daily or on emergency basis.

Thickness of the groundwater aquifer in


the islands is determined by net rainfall
recharge, size of the island and
permeability of the soil column. The
freshwater aquifers already stressed from
over-extraction face the risk of total
depletion if dry periods extend. As the Station in Seenu Atoll. Highest rainfall is
islands have a precarious hydrological during the months of May and October
system, with the predicted sea level rise and the highest rainfall recorded within
and during periods of wave-induced 24 hours to date is 219mm on 9 July
flooding, there is a very high risk of 2002 at Kaadedhdhoo Weather Station
saltwater intrusion into the freshwater in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The lowest rainfall
lens. Salinization of groundwater would is during February and March
affect the quality of life in the islands as (Meteorology 2006).
people depend on groundwater for
Although the global average precipitation
washing, bathing and other non-potable
is projected to increase during the 21st
uses. Saltwater intrusion would also
century, a marginal decline in
affect soil and vegetation causing impacts
precipitation is projected for the Indian
on agriculture and terrestrial ecosystems.
Ocean region (Nurse and Sem 2001).
Rainwater is the main source of drinking The predicted changes in precipitation
water in the atolls. The annual average have the potential to impact on
rainfall for Maldives is 2,124mm. rainwater harvesting across all the atolls
Southern atolls on average receive and in particular the northern atolls.
2,277mm of rainfall annually while Drinking water shortages during dry
northern atolls receive 1,786mm. Lowest periods is a significant challenge for the
annual rainfall recorded in the last 30 atoll population even at present. Water
years is 1,346mm in 2002 at shortages were reported by 30% of the
Hanimaadhoo Weather Station in Haa atoll population in 2004 (MPND 2005).
Dhaalu Atoll and the highest is
3,185mm in 1978 at Gan Weather
35 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

5.7 Agriculture and Food Security cheap imports of vegetables and fruits.
The available cultivable land is 103m2
Agriculture is vital to the food security, per capita (MFAMR 2006). Soil is
nutritional status and livelihoods of the generally made up of medium-sized
atoll population. Agriculture contributed calcium carbonate sand grains. A typical
2.6% to GDP in 2005 (MPND 2006). soil profile is made up of a thin sandy
The total cultivable land area is layer at the top, a layer of organic matter
2 2
estimated at 27km , including 18km on 15 to 40cm deep, layer of hardpan 30 to
2
inhabited islands and 9km on 50cm deep before reaching unweathered
uninhabited islands (MFAMR 2006). The bedrock. The soil is absent of silt and clay
main subsistence crops include banana, reducing the adsorption capacity only to
watermelon, cucumber, taro, coconut, the organic matter layer while the
breadfruit, mango, sweet potato, medium sized calcium carbonate grains
pumpkin, papaya, luffa, cabbage and result in high infiltration rates. The
brinjal. average pH is 8.5 due to high calcium
content of the soil causing deficiencies in
Agriculture sector is constrained by the
micro-nutrients. In addition, the soil
limited availability of cultivable land,
lacks nitrogen and potassium due to
poor quality of soil and the abundance of
excessive leaching making the fertility
low (FAO 2005; MFAMR 2006).

Every year more than 17 million


kilograms of rice, 17 million kilograms of
flour and 10 million kilograms of sugar
are imported (MCS 2006). Imports of
fresh vegetables and fruits have also
increased mainly due to the expanding
tourism sector. In 2003, the Maldives
imported US$32.4 million worth of
vegetable products, US$25.9 million
worth of meat and meat products, US$3
million worth of animal and vegetable
fats and oils, and US$37.8 million worth
of prepared foodstuffs (MFAMR 2006).

Climate hazards such as changes in


temperature, precipitation and timing of
extreme or critical threshold events will
affect agriculture in the Maldives. The
critical impact pathways include heat
stress on plants, changes in soil moisture
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 36

and temperature, loss of soil fertility


through erosion of fertile top soil, less
water available for crop production,
changes in height of water table,
salinization of freshwater aquifer and loss
of land through sea level rise. The
consequences of such impacts are likely
to be more severe in the Maldives
coral reef biodiversity
because agriculture is already under
stress due to poor soil, limited land
available for cultivation and water
scarcity. The subsistence crop agriculture
will also be affected by severe weather
events. Over the past six years 90 islands
have experienced flooding and amongst
5.8 Coral Reef Biodiversity
these 37 islands had flooding six times or
more (Shaig 2006).
Coral reef ecosystems of the Maldives are

Heavy import dependency, limited food significant both at international and

storage and ad hoc distribution also pose national level. They form the seventh

severe food security risk to the largest reef system and are among the

population. The Maldives imports almost richest in the world in terms of species

all food items except fresh tuna and diversity. It has two of the largest natural

coconut. Long-term and emergency food atolls in the world, Thiladhunmathi Atoll
2
storage is virtually absent except for with a total surface area of 3,788km

warehousing in Male' and nine other and Huvadhoo Atoll with a total surface
2
islands (STO 2006). Since food area of 3,278km . At the national level,

distribution system is by boat from Male' the Maldives is a nation of coral islands

to islands and the quantity that can be where the reefs function as natural sea

transported across on one trip is small defences for the highly vulnerable

(MHAHE 2001), higher frequency of islands. The two major economic

extreme events associated with climate activities tourism and fisheries are reef

change would increase food security based and provide more than 80% of the

problems. In 2003, 7% of the population total revenues to the country. The reefs

experienced food crisis and for nearly also provide food and are the source of

half of this population it lasted for less coral sand that is used as a construction

than 10 days (MPND 2004). material.

In the 25 natural atolls of the Maldives


there are 2,041 distinct coral reefs
(Naseer 2006). About 529 reefs are
37 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

Figure 5.8: Map coral reef structures

Ihavandhippolhu Atoll
A: 289.81 R: 119.50 I: 5.70
Thiladhunmathi Atoll
7N A: 3788.71 R: 500.70 I: 68.70
Makunudhoo Atoll
A: 142.48 R: 142.48 I: 0.96
Alifushi-Eththigili Atoll
A: 4.38 R: 4.38 I: 0.71
North Maalhosmadulu Atoll
6N A: 1184.31 R: 223.50 I: 12.90
Kudarikilu Atoll
A: R: I:
Faadhippolhu Atoll
A: 701.42 R: 158.00 I: 7.20
South Maalhosmadulu Atoll
5N A: 1126.95 R: 262.90 I: 5.50
Kaashidhoo Atoll
A: 9.54 R: 9.54 I: 2.89
Goidhoo Atoll
A: 112.61 R: 112.61 I: 2.20
Gaafaru Atoll
4N A: 88.05 R: 88.05 I: 0.19
Thoddoo Atoll
A: 4.75 R: 4.75 I: 1.62
North Male Atoll
A: 1568.18 R: 349 I: 9.40
Rasdhoo Atoll
A: 61.84 R: 61.84 I: 0.62
3N
South Male Atoll
A: 536.33 R: 175.60 I: 2.00
Ari Atoll
A: 2271.75 R: 489.40 I: 8.30
Felidhe Atoll
A: 1090.97 R: 251.10 I: 0.92
2N
Vattaru Atoll
A: 46.72 R: 46.72 I: 0.01
North Nilandhe Atoll
A: 597.15 R: 151.30 I: 2.20
Mulaku Atoll
1N A: 983.92 R: 197.30 I: 4.20
South Nilandhe Atoll
A: 736.46 R: 179.40 I: 4.40
Kolhumadulu Atoll A: Land Area (sqkm)
A: 1695.79 R: 243.70 I: 9.30 R: Reef Area (Sqkm)
Hadhdhunmathi Atoll
A: 884.63 R: 203.70 I: 23.10 I: No of Islands
0N
Equator Huvadhoo Atoll Islands
A: 3278.59 R: 437.90 I: 34.30
Reefs
Fuvahmulah Atoll
A: 10.18 R: 10.18 I: 5.13 0 20 100 Km
Addu Atoll
73E

A: 157.22 R: 70.32 I: 15.00 Source data: Naseer (2006)


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 38

found on the rims of the 16 complex bleaching. During the 1998 El Nino
atolls, five make up ocean faros and four event monthly mean SST was 1.24 S.D.
are oceanic platform reefs. The rest are above the 1950 to 1999 average, with
found as patch reefs within the lagoons the greatest anomaly in May of +2.1C
of the complex atolls. Figure 15 shows a (Edwards et al., 2001). During that event
diagrammatic outline of these major coral bleaching was first reported in mid-
coral reef structures. The total area of the April. Bleaching was reported to be
atolls including the atoll lagoons is severe from late April to mid-May with
2
approximately 21,372km and the total some recovery evident by late-May.
2
reef area is close to 4,500km
The reefs in the central and northern
representing 20% of the total area of the
region were more affected than the other
atolls. Thiladhunmathi Atoll has the
regions (Zahir, 1999). Significant
largest reef area with approximately
2 reductions in live coral cover were seen
500km while Ari Atoll has the second
2
at reefs in the central atolls, with average
largest with 489km (Figure 5.8).
live coral cover decreasing from about
The coral reef system of the Maldives 42% to 2%, a 20-fold reduction from
supports rich marine biological diversity. pre-bleaching levels. Almost 98% of
Over 1090 species of fish, 36 species of branching corals died whereas the
sponges, 180 species of stony corals and majority of massive corals survived the
250 species of hermatypic corals are bleaching (Edwards et al., 2001).
found. In addition, 9 species of whales, Monitoring programs have shown that
15 to 20 species of sharks and seven recovery of both coral cover and species
species of dolphins and five species of diversity is underway with dominance of
turtles have also been observed. recruitment by branching corals (Edwards
Altogether 285 species of algae, five et al., 2001). On 23 March 2003,
species of seagrass, 400 species of several species of branching corals from
molluscs, 350 species of crustaceans and the genus Acropora released thousands
80 species of echinoderms have been of bright red eggs and sperm bundles
documented (MHAHE, 2002; MEC, into the Indian Ocean. This indicates that
2004). the corals have reached maturity and as
the new generation of coral colonies
Corals are highly sensitive to changes in continues to grow, increased spawning is
temperature and some species of corals expected in the coming years and there is
live at or near their thermal limits hope that the Maldivian reefs will fully
(Goreau, 1992). As a result the incidence recover.
of bleaching will increase in frequency
and intensity with the projected rise in On the other hand, estimates of April
SST. The evidence from the reefs of the mean monthly SST suggests a rise of
Maldives supports that warming of the 0.16C per decade. If this trend
ocean surface leads to significant coral continues, by 2030 mean April SST in
39 Vulnerabilities and Impacts

Coral reefs in the Maldives are also


vulnerable to the projected rise in sea
level. Most reefs of the Maldives appear
to be at the point where they are sea
level limited and with no potential for
upward growth. Reefs appear to be now
growing outwards laterally and filling up
Coral Bleaching
inside (Naseer 2006). It is predicted that
sea level rise would induce reefs to grow
vertically upwards. However, increased
SST and oceanic CO2 concentrations may
alter the calcification potential of coral
reefs resulting in slow growth. The
calcification rate of corals is expected to
decline by 14 to 30% by 2050 (IPCC
A pile of dead coral: In the 1998 El-Nino 2001). Reef health is also being severely
event, almost 98% of the branching coral
died. There are numerous implication for the affected by human activities. Hence reefs
coral reef survival due predicted increase in
may not be able to keep pace with the
Seas Surface Temperatures.
predicted rise in sea level. This also

the central atolls will normally exceed reduces the chances of the islands of

the anomaly level at which corals appear Maldives to naturally adapt to the

susceptible to mass bleaching (Edwards predicted rise in sea level.

et al., 2001).
The impacts on the reefs would affect

As mass spawning and recruitment in the tourism, fisheries, food security and

reef ecosystems is cued to environmental human settlements. These impacts are

conditions coral reef biodiversity is considered in details in the respective

particularly vulnerable to climate change. sections of this chapter.

After spawning, coral larvae usually drift


with the currents for at least four days
before settling on nearby reefs. Many
reef fish are also known to have seasonal
spawning cycles which may be disrupted
by changes in environmental conditions
resulting in recruitment failure. In
addition, reef fishes have a pelagic larval
phase ranging from days to few weeks.
Survival of larvae depends on favourable
conditions of the pelagic environment as
well (Adam 2006).
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 40

Chapter VI
Adaptation Needs and
Priority Adaptation Strategies

The fourth component of the Adaptation 3. Strengthen land-use planning as a


Framework is the adaptation strategies tool for protection of human
(Figure 1 Chapter Two). This chapter first settlements.
lists the adaptation needs and then the
4. Build capacity for coastal
priority adaptation strategies.
protection, coastal zone
management and flood control.
6.1 Adaptation Needs
5. Protect beaches through soft and
The adaptation needs were identified
hard-engineering solutions.
through wide stakeholder consultations.
The adaptation needs are classified here 6. Protect house reef to maintain
under the priority sectors presented in natural defense of islands.
Chapter Five. These sectors are similar to
those given in the FNC (2001). 7. Improve building designs and
regulations to increase resilience.
6.1.1 Land, Beach and Human
Settlements 8. Integrate climate change
adaptation into national disaster
1. Consolidate population and management framework.
development.

2. Acquire support for the speedy and


efficient implementation of Safer
Island Strategy.
41 Adaptation Needs and Priority Adaptation Strategies

6.1.2 Critical Infrastructure breeding to reduce the economic


and social impacts of changing
1. Develop coastal protection for tuna abundance.
airports and development focus
islands. 3. Undertake research and
disseminate information on
2. Strengthen capacity for planning fisheries and climate change.
and design of infrastructure to
ensure development of resilient 4. Experiment new and alternative
infrastructure. species and breeding methods for
livebait.
3. Protect powerhouses and utilities.
5. Integrated reef fishery
4. Protect telecommunication
management.
infrastructure.
6. Exploit new species and promote
6.1.3 Tourism poultry farming as alternative
sources of protein to reduce over-
1. Protect beaches and tourist
dependency on tuna for protein.
infrastructure.

6.1.5 Human Health


2. Develop climate change
adaptation policy and strategy for 1. Strengthen regulatory and
tourism. institutional capacity for vector
control.
3. Diversify the tourism product to
reduce over-dependency on 2. Streamline the planning of
marine environment. healthcare services and strengthen
medical emergency response.
4. Strengthen tourism institutions to
coordinate climate response in the 3. Promote healthy lifestyles, healthy
tourism sector. islands and healthy buildings.

5. Incorporate climate change 4. Strengthen the capacity for


adaptation measures to upcoming healthcare delivery.
resorts.
5. Undertake research and
6.1.4 Fisheries disseminate information on
climate change related diseases.
1. Improve fish finding and fish
harvesting. 6. Increase nutrition promotion
campaigns.
2. Establish aquaculture/mariculture
as an alternative to natural
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 42

6.1.6 Water Resources for local food.

1. Acquire appropriate sewage 8. Enforce and strengthen quarantine


treatment and disposal and integrated pest control to
technologies to protect water prevent pests and diseases.
resources.
9. Introduce new irrigation
2. Increase safe rainwater harvesting. technologies.

3. Acquire desalination technologies 6.1.8 Coral Reef Biodiversity


appropriate for small islands.
1. Provide alternatives to coral and
4. Undertake recharging of aquifers sand as construction materials and
to reduce salinisation from enforce the ban on coral mining.
saltwater intrusion and storm
2. Enhance the capacity for waste
surge flooding.
management to prevent pollution
5. Protect and preserve natural water of marine environment.
catchment areas.
3. Formulate and implement an oil
6.1.7 Agriculture and Food Security pollution contingency plan.

1. Develop a national food security 4. Acquire appropriate sewage


strategy. treatment technologies.

2. Secure trade agreements with 5. Establish marine protected areas.


foreign trade partners to ensure
6. Establish an information base on
food security.
coral reefs and climate change.
3. Establish capacity for emergency
7. Undertake monitoring and
food storage in development focus
research to prevent coral diseases
islands at regional level.
and rehabilitate coral reefs.
4. Introduce new technologies to
8. Develop measures to protect coral
increase local food production.
reefs from development activities.
5. Strengthen marketing and sale of
local food items.

6. Improve allocation of land for


agriculture.

7. Promote traditional food


preservation and storage practices
43 Adaptation Needs and Priority Adaptation Strategies

5.2 Priority Adaptation Strategies prioritisation method are given in Annex


I. The top ranking priority adaptation
The adaptation needs were prioritised by strategies are listed in Table 9. The
community, government and private priority project profiles developed to
sector stakeholders using analytical implement these strategies are given in
hierarchy process. Details of the Chapter Seven.

Table 6.1: List of priority adaptation strategies

Adaptation Measures Score Rank

Build capacity for coastal protection, coastal zone management and flood
76.14 1
control.

Consolidate population and development. 44.47 2

Introduce new technologies to increase local food production 35.62 3

Acquire support for the speedy and efficient implementation of Safer


32.94 4
Island Strategy.

Develop coastal protection for airports and development focus islands. 32.94 5

Integrat e climate change adaptation into national disaster management


32.03 6
framework.

Strengthen tourism institutions to coordinate climate response in the


29.78 7
tourism sector.

Improve building designs to increase resilience and strengthen


29.09 8
enforcement of building code.

Acquire appropriate sewage treatment and disposal technologies to


28.32 9
protect water resources.

Incorporate climate change adaptation measures to upcoming resorts 27.83 10

Promote healthy lifestyles, healthy islands and healthy buildings. 27.45 11

Enhance the capacity for waste management to prevent pollution of


27.03 12
marine environment.

Provide alternatives to coral and sand as construction materials and


26.54 13
enforce the ban on coral mining.

Integrated reef fishery management. 24.42 14

Streamline the planning of healthcare services and strengthen medical


23.72 15
emergency response.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 44

Table 6.1 (Continued): List of priority adaptation strategies

Adaptation Measures Score Rank

Increase safe rainwater harvesting. 23.66 16

Develop measures to protect coral reefs from development activities 22.83 17

Undertake recharging of aquifers and other measures to reduce


19.37 18
salinisation from saltwater intrusion and storm surge flooding.

Undertake research and disseminate information on climate change


19.26 19
related diseases.

Strengthen the capacity for healthcare delivery. 19.02 20

Strengthen capacity for planning and design of ports, harbours and


17.40 21
jetties.

Develop climate change adaptation policy and strategy for tourism. 16.84 22

Protect house reef to maintain natural defense of islands. 16.27 23

Prot ect and preserve natural water catchment areas. 15.15 24

Experiment new and alternative species and breeding methods for


14.54 25
livebait.

Enforce and strengthen quarantine and integrated pest control to prevent


13.89 26
pests and diseases.

Strengthen regulatory and institutional capacity for vector control. 13.74 27

Protect beaches and tourist infrastructure. 13.02 28

Review the marketing strategy of tourism to diversify the tourism


12.89 29
product and reduce over-dependency on coral.

Acquire desalination technologies appropriate for small islands. 11.93 30


45 Adaptation Projects

Chapter VII
Adaptation Projects

7.1 Adaptation Projects Maldives to the adverse effects of climate


change. The project profiles in Table 10
This chapter presents the projects that are based on the priority adaptation
are necessary for long-term adaptation of strategies in Section 6.2.

Table 7.1: List of project profiles

Project
Project Title
Number

1 Strengthening coastal zone management in Maldives to enhance climate change resilience.

2 On-the-ground demonstration of safer islands and integration of future climate change


scenarios in the safer island strategy to adapt to sea level rise and extreme weather risks
associated with climate change
3 Increase the resilience of local food production through enhancing the capacity of farmers,
local communities and institutions to address food security issues caused by climate change
and climate variability.

4 Coastal protection of airports and focus islands to reduce the risk from sea induced flooding
and predicted sea level rise.

5 Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development planning and National Disaster
Management Framework to accommodate adaptation measures in future development and
disaster management plans.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 46

Table 7.1 (Continued): Project profiles

6 Enabling adaptation of tourism businesses and tourism dependent communities to


predicted climate change and variability

7 Improve resilience of Island communities to climate change and variability through


sustainable building designs.

8 Demonstrate on-the-ground wastewater technologies that can protect groundwater and


coral reef resources vulnerable to climate change stresses .

9 Promotion of health, creation of effective structures and implementation of policies and


measures to reduce health vulnerability to climate change.

10 On-the-ground demonstration of effectiveness of waste management at regional level to


protect coral reefs, human health and water resources for increased adaptive capacity to
climate change.

11 Preventing coral and sand mining from coral reefs, lagoons and beaches to maintain their
natural status and increase the resilience of natural environment to climate change.

12 Accumulate knowledge and communicate practical information to raise public


awareness and increase political commitment to adapt to the health risks to the
Maldivian population from climate change

13 Build the information base on vulnerability of reef fishery to the predicted impacts of
climate change and variabilities to determine adaptation measures required for integrated
reef fishery management.
14 Strengthening capacity of healthcare delivery and streamlining planning of healthcare
services to adapt to climate change related health risks
15 Improve rainwater harvesting to secure availability of safe water and reduce vulnerability to
changes in precipitation caused by climate change.

16 Increase resilience of coral reefs to reduce the vulnerability of islands, communities and
reef -dependant economic activities to predicted climate change.

17 Enhance adaptive capacity to manage climate change related risks to water resources
through increasing knowledge, strengthening regulatory framework and adoption of
appropriate new technologies.

18 Improve the design and construction of access infrastructure in Maldives to increase the
resilience of access infrastructure and island beaches to climate change.
19 Investigating alternative livebait management, catch, culture and holding techniques
in the Maldives to reduce vulnerability of the tuna fishery sector to the predicted
climate change and variability.
20 Improve the health status of the population, particularly children, by the prevention and
management of vector-borne diseases caused by changes in temperature and flooding due
to extreme rainfall.
47 Adaptation Projects - Project 1

Project Strengthening coastal zone management in

1 Maldives to enhance climate change resilience.

Rationale naturally adapt to changing conditions.


Unfortunately, there are a number of
The Maldives is a country based almost non-climate drivers, resulting from
entirely on a coastal environment. The human activities, that has acted to
climate, geology, geomorphology and increase the vulnerability of these
coastal processes of the Maldivian low islands. Human activities such as
lying coral islands make their coastal improperly designed coastal development
environments highly dynamic. Islands activities, sand mining, coral mining,
develop on the reef environment based waste and sewage disposal into coastal
on an equilibrium of different forces such areas and removal of coastal vegetation
as wave conditions, climate, ocean has led to considerable and often
currents, sediments or reef characteristics permanent negative impacts on the
and has potential to change in geological coastal environments.
time based on changes to the different
forces. Human settlements in such a The impacts on the coastal zone are its

relatively volatile environment have gradual degradation. Coastal erosion has

meant that considerable effort is been reported by almost all inhabited

required to manage the coastal islands and the majority report severe

environment in order to maintain the erosion. Coral reefs which stand as the

settlements. first line of defense for the islands against


waves have been removed considerably
Climate change and climate variability in some islands. The sediment budget of
has added new dimensions to the the islands have been reduced in some
vulnerability of such coastal islands due to sand mining while
environments. It is expected that the sediment loss has occurred in most
coastal areas of coral islands will undergo islands with improperly designed coastal
considerable change with the predicted infrastructure. The impact of these
climate change and the maximum changes is felt by the entire island
chances of survival in the worst case community to the extent that most
predictions are reliant on how far the islands unanimously agree that their
elements natural environment such as major environmental concern is coastal
coral reefs and island beaches are able erosion.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 48

Much of these human induced Objective 1: Develop the human resource


vulnerabilities have been a result of the and institutional capacity at atoll and
absence or limitations in coastal zone island level to manage coastal zones
management. Human activities on
coastal environment need to be Activities
regulated and negative impacts mitigated 1.1 Develop a coastal zone
constantly to allow the natural processes management training kit based
to function properly. The main specifically based on the
hindrances to properly manage the environmental conditions of
coastal zone are considerable. There is an Maldives.
apparent lack of human resources, 1.2 Coastal management training
limitations in institutional setup at island conducted in the outer atolls
level, lack of technical capacity to targeting the key players at island
properly assess and design coastal level.
development activities or to develop
1.3 Establish environmental
standards and guidelines, and a lack of
surveying units and develop basic
capacity at island to manage the coastal
coastal surveying capacity at Atoll
environment.
or Regional level.

In the face of the predicted climate 1.4 Train coastal engineers to be

change and increase in coastal based in the 5 Regional

development activities, coastal zone Development Management

management has become a critical Offices (RDMO's)

concern for all inhabited islands. Urgent 1.5 Undertake feasibility study to
actions needs to be taken to establish the conduct a coastal zone
human resources, technical capacity and management course in the
institutional setup to minimize or Maldives College for Higher
mitigate the impacts from human Education.
activities and facilitate the natural 1.6 Develop curriculum for a coastal
adaptation processes to work, in order to zone management course in the
maximize the chances of adaptation to Maldives College for Higher
climate change. Education

1.7 Establish a Coastal Zone


Description
Management Training Course in
the Maldives College for Higher
Goal
Education.

Strengthen human, technical, regulatory


Short term outputs
and institutional capacity for coastal
zone management to enhance future 4 Coastal zone management

climate change resilience of islands. training kit developed


49 Adaptation Projects - Project 1

4 Coastal Zone management activities and how current design


Training conducted in the outer and implementation could be
atolls. enhanced.

4 Environmental surveying units 2.2 Review existing practices in land


established at Atoll or regional reclamation and conduct detailed
level. studies on how they increase the
vulnerability islands to short term
4 Coastal surveying equipments
severe weather events and
and office setup assistance
climate change.
provided for the units.
2.3 Develop standards and guidelines
4 Staff identified for the surveying
for access infrastructure
units.
development and land
4 One Coastal engineer trained for
reclamation projects to
each of the RDMO's
complement EIA requirements.
4 Feasibility study for establishing a
2.4 Develop environmental
coastal zone management course
guidelines for land use planning
in the Maldives College for
at island level.
Higher Education

4 Curriculum for a coastal zone Short term outputs


management course in the 4 Technical study on impacts of
Maldives College for Higher current access infrastructure
Education. development activities in islands
4 Coastal Zone Management and recommendations for

training course developed and enhancement

accredited. 4 Study on impacts of land


reclamation activities on island
Outcome
vulnerability

Coastal zone management skills 4 Standards and guidelines

enhanced and institutional setting developed for land reclamation


improved at regional, atoll and island and access infrastructure
level. development activities in all
islands.
Objective 2: Enhance the technical
4 Environmental guidelines for land
capacity to design coastal modifications
use planning at island level.
suitable for small coral islands.
Outcome
Activities
2.1 Undertaking studies to assess the Technical capacity to design coastal

main impacts from access modifications suitable for small coral

infrastructure development islands.


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 50

Objective 3: Strengthen atoll and island Implementation


level capacity to enforce existing coastal
zone management related regulations. Institutional arrangement

Activities Lead agency:

3.1 Designation of staff responsible


Ministry of Environment, Energy and
for enforcement and monitoring.
Water.
3.2 Sensitization programmes on
coastal zone management Partner agencies:
regulations
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry
3.3 Develop and provide an
of Planning and National Development;
information package (including
MCI; Ministry of Housing and Urban
leaflets and posters) for island
Development; Regional Development
offices to inform public on all
Management Offices; Atoll Offices.
regulations related to coastal
zone management. Project Steering Committee:
3.4 Develop mechanisms to
Policy-level officials from community
determine compliance with
representatives and NGOs
regulations.

Project Management Team:


Short term outputs

4 Staff designated for coastal zone Official from Ministry of Environment,


related regulations enforcement Energy and Water and Ministry of
and monitoring Construction and Infrastructure.
4 A number of sensitization
programmes on Coastal zone Risks and barriers
management regulations 4 Existing inappropriate
4 An information package modifications may negate
promoting coastal zone positive changes from improved
management related regulation new infrastructure
developed and disseminated to 4 Long-term maintenance of
island offices equipment acquired under the
4 Compliance monitoring system. project may be expensive and
there may not be a budget
Outcome allocation for the maintenance.

Atoll and island level capacity to enforce


4 Human resource limitations in

existing coastal zone management outer islands

related regulations enhanced 4 Trained staff retention at the


specified locations
51 Adaptation Projects - Project 1

4 Adequacy of single surveying


units for each region/atoll

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and Ministry of
Planning and National Development.
Quarterly progress reports, expenditure
reports, annual monitoring reports will
be submitted accordingly. In addition,
any donor finance agency requirements
on M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$ 1,230,00.


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 52

Project On-the-ground demonstration of safer islands and

2 integration of future climate change scenarios in


the safer island strategy to adapt to sea level rise
and extreme weather risks associated with climate
change

Rationale and enable the communities to sustain


social and economic development in
All the islands of the Maldives are among times of emergencies and disasters. It
the most vulnerable to the rise in sea aims at providing ecologically safe zones
level associated with climate change. All principally to mitigate tsunami hazards
the islands are also vulnerable to natural and other disasters by establishing
disasters such as storms, high winds and building and construction codes that
wave actions, which regularly result in would enable vertical evacuation if and
floods, destruction of property, and when necessary and provide all basic
sometimes loss of lives. The primary aim services in an emergency, including
of this project is to enhance people's particularly health, communication and
safety from climate change impacts and transport infrastructure, and have a
natural disasters, and the path selected is buffer stock of basic food stuffs and
to improve and strengthen the safer water.
island strategy developed by the
government to resettle communities The safe islands would have (i) quick

from the smaller, more vulnerable access to air travel, (ii) coastal protection

islands onto larger, better protected (iii) sufficient space for subsequent

ones. Several components of the Safer population growth (iv) potential for

Island Strategy may in fact contribute to expansion (v) proximity to another island

making islands more vulnerable to and or possibility for connection with

climate change impacts and natural another island, (vi) a viable economy and

disasters, if the climate change scenarios (vii) access to social services.

are not adequately considered in the


In the absence of this project, it is
land-use planning and development of
possible that climate change concerns
safer islands.
may not be adequately integrated into

The concept of the safe islands is to the safer island strategy. This project

extend the population consolidation would contribute to the resilience of the

strategy to incorporate the aspect of Maldives in the face of climate change

extreme vulnerability and develop and its capacity to respond effectively to

measures to mitigate ecological disasters increasing threats posed by climate


change and natural disasters.
53 Adaptation Projects - Project 2

Description Short-term outputs

4 Climate risk profile for the five


Goal regions of the Maldives.

Development of the institutional, 4 Vulnerability assessment of

technical and regulatory capacity for existing host islands and

healthcare services planning and delivery proposed host islands.

to prevent and manage climate-related 4 Climate change sensitive


health risks. selection criteria for host/safe
islands.
Objective 1: Integrate climate change
4 Methodology for selection of
concerns in the safer island strategy
adaptation measures.

Activities: 4 Training for key stakeholders and


awareness materials.
1.1 Undertake a detailed climate risk
4 CBA of different adaptation
profile for the different regions
measures and technologies.
of the Maldives

Outcome
1.2 Assess and evaluate the specific
vulnerabilities of the proposed Adaptation to future climate change
host islands to the climate scenarios fully integrated in the safer
hazards island strategy of the Maldives.

1.3 Develop climate change criteria


Objective 2: Strengthen the capacity to
to be used in the selection of
implement practically the safer island
host/safe islands
strategy for adaptation to climate

1.4 Develop methods and models for change.

the selection of a pragmatic suite


Activities
of climate change adaptation
measures to be implemented in 2.1 Improve the land use planning
safer islands process through informing the
land use planners on latest
1.5 Provide training and technical
science of climate change and
assistance to the key
sensitizing them on pragmatic
stakeholders to integrate climate
long term adaptation
change adaptation in the present
safer island strategy 2.2 Incorporate climate change
concerns into the land use
1.6 Undertake cost-benefit analysis
planning laws, regulations and
of adaptation measures and
guidelines
technologies for safer islands
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 54

2.3 Undertake an inventory and Outcome:


assessment of coastal resources
Capacity for implementation of safer
in one of the host islands
island strategy improved.
2.4 Formulate a model coastal zone
management strategy to reduce Objective 3: Demonstrate on-the-ground

island vulnerability and guide the practicality of safer islands as

coastal development activities in adaptation to climate change.


a host/safe island
Activities
2.5 Develop the capacity to
3.1 Using the selection criteria,
formulate regional development
select an island to be developed
plans and integrate climate
as a safe island
change adaptation into them

3.2 Mobilize the incremental finance


2.6 Train island, atoll, and regional
required to develop the island as
level environmental officers on
a safer island
climate change adaptation

3.3 Develop the land use plan for


2.7 Establish a donor assistance
the safer island
coordination forum to mobilize
funds for safer island
3.4 Undertake the coastal zone
development
management planning for the
safe island
Short-term outputs:

4 Training courses and awareness 3.5 Conduct an environmental


building for land use planners. impact assessment for the

4 Draft land use laws, regulations proposed safer island

and guidelines. development

4 Method for assessment and 3.6 Undertake the coastal protection


inventorization of coastal and flood control engineering
resources pilot tested works
4 CZM strategy for safe islands
3.7 Implement the selected
4 Climate concerns integrated in
adaptation measures for the
regional development plans
island
4 Training for environmental
officers working in the islands 3.8 Review and report on the
successes and lessons learnt
4 Modalities for mobilizing finance
developed and regular meetings
with donors
55 Adaptation Projects - Project 2

Short-term outputs and NGOs will be established

4 Selection of a safer island.


Project Management: Full time project
4 Mobilization of incremental staff will be recruited to the Regional
finance. Development section of the Ministry of
4 Land use plan for the safer island Planning and National Development

4 CZM plan for safer island


Risks and barriers
4 EIA for safer island
4 Ministry of Planning and National
4 Engineering solutions for erosion
Development is the agency
prevention and flood control
coordinating the tsunami
4 Demonstration of adaptation
reconstruction activities. Hence it
activities
would be necessary to provide
4 Dissemination of lessons and additional staff to implement this
success stories project.

4 Ministry of Planning and National


Outcome
Development would require the
Practical implementation of safer island technical support from the
strategy demonstrated. Ministry of Environment, Energy
and Water and other agencies. It
Implementation would be important to delineate
the roles and responsibilities at
Institutional arrangement: an earlier stage to avoid
duplication of effort and seek
Lead agency
cooperation.

Ministry of Planning and National


Development
Evaluation and monitoring

Partner agencies The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
Ministry of Environment, Energy and President's Office and Ministry of
Water; Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and National Development.
Development; Ministry of Atolls Quarterly progress reports, expenditure
Development; Ministry of Construction reports, annual monitoring reports will
and Public Infrastructure be submitted accordingly. Donor
requirements on M&E will be fulfilled.
Project Steering Committee

A steering committee comprising of


Financial resources
senior planning officials, island
Total project cost: US$ 3,360,000
development committees, private sector
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 56

Project Increase the resilience of local food production


through enhancing the capacity of farmers, local
3 communities and institutions to address food
security issues caused by climate change and
climate variability.

Rationale sustainability and productivity of existing


farming schemes will require innovative
Climate change will impact agriculture marketing approaches and particularly,
and food production in the Maldives strengthening of the links to existing
through sea level rise, salt intrusion into tourism market. Better control of pests
the ground water aquifer, salinization of and weeds would also be crucial for
soil and flooding caused by increased sustained increase in local food
rainfall. The geographical distribution of production.
islands in the country across a large area
of sea seriously constraints the This project is designed to increase the

distribution of food. Consequently, many capacity of farmers, local communities

island communities depend on home and institutions by enhancing

grown vegetables and fruits for nutrition knowledge, access to technologies, best

while the staple diet of imported rice and practices, marketing and pest control.

flour is transported from Male'.


Description
Increased local food production is
identified as a key adaptation measure to Goal
tackle food security issues posed by
Improve local food production for food
climate change. There is acute lack of
security through capacity building of
knowledge on the adaptive capacity of
farmers, local communities and
the local plant species used for food
institutions.
production to the predicted climate
change. Appropriate irrigation and other
Objective 1: Assess community
technologies are also crucial for
knowledge and practices on local plant
increased food production and national
species used for food production.
food security. Increasing agriculture will
require simultaneous capacity building at Activities
all levels, from the farmers in the field to
1. Develop a framework of analysis
national agencies managing agriculture
to assess different types and
and national water resources
scales of local food production
management institutions. Improving the
and gather data about different
57 Adaptation Projects - Project 3

species cultivated in different 3. Demonstrate appropriate


scales. irrigation technologies suitable

2. Identification of traditional food for different local crop species.

varieties and their management. 4. Explore technologies applicable

3. Assess how the predicted climate to agriculture in small tropical

change hazards will impact the islands.

local plant species used for food 5. Communications and capacity-


production. building to disseminate and

4. Examine how food crops are integrate proven methodologies

conserved traditionally and into relevant farming

identify current farming practices communities.

applicable to adaptation.
Short-term outputs
Short-term outputs 4 Recommendations on seed and

4 Analytical framework on data planting materials management

requirements. system.

4 Agricultural Produce Database. 4 Community level network


publicized on internet and yellow
4 Assessment report on local food
pages.
production.
4 Irrigation demonstrations for
4 Vulnerability and Adaptation
commercially important species.
Assessment for agriculture sector.
4 Profile of available technologies
Outcome disseminated.

4 Workshops, awareness materials.


Knowledge required to increase adaptive
capacity enhanced. 4 Best practice guides.

Objective 2: Identification and testing of Outcome


appropriate technologies and good
New and alternative ways of increasing
practices to increase adaptive capacity of
food production promoted.
local plants.
Objective 3: Develop the policy,
Activities
institutional and regulatory framework
1. Develop mechanisms to manage
to ensure food security.
local plants genetic diversity.

2. Establish a seed and planting Activities


materials network to support 1. Provide technical assistance for
informal exchange of seedlings the formulation of National Food
and rootstocks. Security Strategy that includes
review of existing mandates,
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 58

designating a national focal produce fair to link farmers with


agency, defining roles and buyers and sellers.
responsibilities and, 3. Undertake feasibility study on
strengthening food storage and elevation of current subsistence
distribution. crops to commercial use.
2. Review the existing laws on land, 4. Educate local farmers on
uninhabited islands and land use maintaining quality standards
planning and recommend required from tourism market.
improved land allocation
measures for food production. Short-term outputs

3. Secure preferential trade 4 Agriculture market analysis report.


agreements with major bilateral, 4 First trade fair for agricultural
regional and international trade produce.
partners to ensure food security
4 Feasibility report on
for essential food items.
commercialisation of subsistence
crops.
Short-term outputs

4 Draft National Food Security


4 Quality standards defined and
workshops conducted.
Strategy.

4 Policy recommendations to Outcome


improve land allocation for food
production. Market access to farmers improved.

4 Trade agreements for rice, flour


Objective 5: Enhance agricultural
and sugar.
production through enabling integrated

Outcome pest control and better quarantine of


imports.
Policy and institutional framework for
food security strengthened. Activities

1. Develop guidebooks and manuals


Objective 4: Strengthen the links
on pest and disease identification
between farmers and markets to ensure for farmers
sustainable local food production.
2. Demonstrate appropriate
integrated pest and disease
Activities
control measures in agricultural
1. Undertake an analysis of the
service centres
tourism market and identify
3. Undertake technical studies for
major consumer preferences with
development of a pest and
regard to local food crops.
disease laboratory at Male'
2. Establish an annual local food
International Airport.
59 Adaptation Projects - Project 2

4. Draft regulations to protect the Development; Ministry of Tourism and


farmers, natural resource base, Civil Aviation; Ministry of Economic
and biological diversity from Development and Trade; Ministry of
pesticide imports and use. Atolls Development; Ministry of Health;

5. Develop the policies, regulatory Maldives Food and Drug Authority

framework and plans necessary


Project Steering Committee: Policy-level
to establish plant and animal
officials, community representatives,
quarantine system.
private sector and NGOs

Short-term outputs
Project Management: Full time project
4 Guidebook and manuals on pests staff will be recruited.
and diseases

4 Demonstration of integrated pest Risks and barriers


control methods and tools in three 4 Organizational roles and
Agricultural Service Centres
responsibilities on food security
4 Design and technical requirements not clear.
report for pest and disease 4 Legal framework for food security
laboratory
inadequate.
4 Regulations on pesticide import
and use Evaluation and monitoring
4 National policy and regulations on
The project will be monitored according
plant and animal quarantine
to the national M&E standards set by
Outcome President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
Better pest control and, plant and animal annual monitoring reports will be
quarantine enabled for local food submitted to MPND. In addition, any
security. donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.
Implementation
Financial resources
Institutional arrangement:
Total project cost: US$ 825,000
Lead agency: Ministry of Fisheries,
Agriculture and Marine Resources

Partner agencies: Ministry of


Environment, Energy and Water; Ministry
of Housing and Urban Development;
Ministry of Planning and National
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 60

Project Coastal protection of airports and focus islands to


reduce the risk from sea induced flooding and
4 predicted sea level rise.

Rationale high risk from climate related damages


and more importantly to predicted
Airports, especially the two international climate change. The consolidation of
airports are amongst the most critical population to these growth centres
economic infrastructures of Maldives due further exposes more population and
their importance in the limited their property, due to the high density of
transportation network. The tourism development and proximity to coastline.
industry is almost entirely dependent on It is crucial that these islands be
the proper functioning of the protected from the impacts of the
international airports. At times of predicted climate change in order to
disasters it is also the main entry point reduce the risks to human life and
for international aid, the main critical infrastructure.
distribution points of emergency aid and
perhaps the main evacuation point at At present, Maldives lack the capacity to

times of a major disaster. Unfortunately, undertake risk assessment studies or to

due their low elevation and proximity to develop technical and engineering

coastline, the infrastructure of the five solutions. They also lack the financial

main airports are highly vulnerable to resources to undertake large scale

damage from severe weather related protection of the above described

flooding and future climatic change. In infrastructure. It has become an urgent

the past, during natural disasters and priority to protect these investments to

severe weather events, airport operations avoid substantial economic losses in the

have been interrupted due to extensive future.

flooding of main infrastructures.

Similarly, the development focus islands


identified under the regional
development programme are expected to
receive large public investments in order
to develop them as growth centers within
the country. Currently these new
expensive and critical investments are at
61 Adaptation Projects - Project 4

Description 4 Detailed engineering and designs


of MIA coastal protection
Goal measures

4 Implementation of MIA coastal


Reduce vulnerability of airport and focus
protection measures
island to current climate risks and future
climate change risks.
Outcomes

Objective 1: Protect Male' International Reduced vulnerability of airports to


Airport (MIA) and the Regional Airports future climate change related flooding;
from sea induced hazards and predicted Smooth operation of tourism industry.
climate change impacts
Objective 2: Demonstrate innovative
Activities coastal protection measures for Focus
Islands
1.1 Undertake technical and
engineering studies to protect
Activities
Male' International Airport and
regional airports using hard 2.1 Evaluate existing and new coastal
and/or soft engineering solutions protection options suitable for
small coral islands.
1.2 Undertake cost effectiveness
analysis of the proposed 2.2 Undertake detailed technical and
solutions and develop financing engineering studies for the
plans for MIA selected coastal protection
options.
1.3 Develop detailed engineering
and design of coastal protection 2.3 Implement demonstration
measures for MIA. projects for the different options
in selected island or islands.
1.3 Mobilise resources and
implement the public works 2.4 Undertake evaluations of the
required for MIA protection. successes and lessons learned
from the demonstration projects
Short-term outputs and disseminate results.
4 Technical and engineering reports
2.5 Develop financing plans for the
for protecting Male' International
continuation of successful
Airport and Regional Airports
demonstration options.
4 Cost effectiveness analysis of
Coastal protection options for Short-term outputs
MIA
4 Evaluation report identifying
most suitable coastal protections
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 62

measures for islands of Maldives Project Steering Committee


4 Detailed technical and
Policy-level officials from and community
engineering designs for the most
representatives
appropriate coastal protection
options Project Management Team: Officials from
4 Demonstration project or projects Ministry of Construction and Public
implemented for the most Infrastructure and Ministry of Transport
appropriate options and Communication.

4 Evaluation reports and further


recommendations from
Risks and barriers
demonstration projects. 4 Standard designs might not suit

4 Financing Plan for continuation all focus islands.

of demonstration options 4 Timeframe required for a


comprehensive study may be
Outcomes: long, during which period the
airport remains exposed.
Reduced vulnerability of focus islands to
climate change related risks; Improved 4 Building solid coastal protection

response of disaster management now may remove any possibility

services during disaster events. of natural adaptation for those


islands in the future.

Implementation 4 Hard engineering solutions are


expensive to implement and
Institutional arrangement hence, difficult to sustain for all
inhabited islands.
Lead agency

Ministry of Construction and Public Evaluation and monitoring


Infrastructure (focus Islands) and
The project will be monitored according
Ministry of Transport and
to the national M&E standards set by
Communication (Airports)
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly

Partner agencies progress reports, expenditure reports,


annual monitoring reports will be
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry submitted accordingly. In addition, any
of Planning and National Development; donor finance agency requirements on
MCI; Ministry of Housing and Urban M&E will be fulfilled.
Development; Ministry of Environment,
Energy and Water; Ministry of Tourism Financial resources
and Civil Aviation.
Total project cost: US$12,250,000
63 Adaptation Projects - Project 5

Project Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into

5 development planning and National Disaster


Management Framework to accommodate
adaptation measures in future development and
disaster management plans.

Rationale adaptation measures included in it. The


reasons for the lack of climate change
The vulnerability of Maldives archipelago adaptation elements with the current
to climate change is readily apparent. planning and management framework
The root causes of vulnerability include are manifold; lack of climate change
extreme low elevation of just 1.5m above sensitization amongst planners and
mean sea level, the small, dispersed and public administrators, lack of public
unconsolidated nature of land and fragile awareness on the need for adaptation
reef and island eco systems. Predicted measures and lack of capacity to develop
climate change related hazards such as adaptation measures within the disaster
sea level rise, Sea Surface Temperature management framework. Hence, in order
(SST) rise and changes in local and to effectively incorporate adaptation
regional climate patterns would expose measures a first priority should be to
Maldives to events which it may not mainstream climate change adaptation
cope. In order to prepare Maldives for into the above mentioned key areas.
what now appears to be inevitable
climate change related impacts, an Maldives has a sectoral planning

integrated planning and management approach making it important to

approach is required. Unfortunately, mainstream climate change adaptation

Maldives is far from achieving such an into national level planning process.

approach. There is an urgent need for Hence, the island level adaptation

mainstreaming climate change measures and risk reduction of the most

adaptation into the development vulnerable groups at island level are

planning process and to the disaster largely reliant on how far the national

management framework. Development level sectoral plans incorporate

plans such as National Development adaptation measures into them.

Plans and Sectoral Master plans such as


The benefits from this project will be
Fisheries and tourism sector master plans
nation wide. It is an important step for
need to include climate change
future adaptation preparation. Findings
adaptation measures. The planning
from this project can also be replicated to
processes, especially physical planning
other small island states which uses a
processes such as land use planning
sectoral planning approach.
requires adequate climate change
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 64

Description sensitized to climate change risks


and adaptations measures.
Goal 4 A number of private developer
and businesses sensitized to
Mainstreaming climate change into
climate change risks and
national development and physical
adaptations measures.
planning processes and into the Disaster
Management Framework thought
Outcome
awareness creation and capacity building
Public policy developers, atoll/island
Objective 1: Sensitize key stake holders administrators and private sector
in development planning and public developers sensitized to climate change
administration to climate change risks risks and adaptation requirements
and adaptation measures
Objective 2: Increase public awareness of
Activities climate change risks and adaptation
1.1 Conduct workshops targeted at measures
public policy makers.
Activities
1.2 Conduct workshops targeted at
atoll/island administrators. 2.1 Develop a public communication

Workshops will be held in the strategy for climate change risks

atolls providing practical 2.2 Relay climate change risk and


examples from their own adaptation information through
environment. key media outlets. These would

1.3 Conduct workshops and training include radio and TV programs

programs targeted at private designed to convey the key

sector businesses and messages.

developers. 2.3 Develop and distribute

1.4 Exposure of key policy information leaflets to outer

developers to international islands.

forums on climate change 2.4 Promote ongoing community


adaptation. discussions on climate risk
adaptation. Discussions will be
Short term outputs facilitated by local specialists in
4 A number of policy developers the field.
sensitized and exposed to climate
Short term outputs
change risks and adaptations
measures. 4 Public communication strategy

4 A number of public on climate change developed

administrators in outer islands


65 Adaptation Projects - Project 5

4 A number of public awareness general adaptation measures


material developed for media identified at island level

4 Public awareness campaign


Outcome
conducted.

4 Nationwide community Medium to long-term climate change


discussions held on climate risks incorporated in Disaster
change adaptation. Management Framework.

Outcome Objective 4: Capacity building in climate


change related disaster planning and
Public awareness on the climate change
management
risks and adaptation needs raised
Activities
Objective 3: Include climate change risk
management in National Disaster 4.1 Train NDMC staff in climate
Management Framework change science and risk
assessment.
Activities
4.2 Conduct study tours to gain
3.1 Conduct studies to understand
experience of adaptation
potential hazard exposure
measures.
scenarios resulting from climate
change and develop
Short term outputs
methodological framework for
4 Disaster Management Framework
assessing island level risk
updated to include climate
exposure and response
change risks.
mechanisms.
4 NDMC staff trained and exposed
3.2 Conduct island level studies and
to climate change risk assessment
pubic consultations to determine
and adaptation.
individual island risk exposures
and response mechanisms and
Outcome
enhance existing Disaster
Management Plans to include Capacity in climate change risk
the findings. assessment developed within National
Disaster Management Centre.
Short term outputs

4 Methodological framework
developed to assess individual
island exposure to climate
change.

4 Response mechanisms and


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 66

Objective 5: Streamline current and new Ministry of Housing and Urban


development plans to include climate Development; Ministry of Tourism and

change risk management. Civil Aviation; Ministry of Construction


and Public Infrastructure; Ministry of
Activities Health; Ministry of Education; Ministry of
5.1 Facilitate inclusion of climate Transport and Communication; Atoll and
change adaptation in new Island Offices.
development plans such as the
Project Steering Committee
National Development Plans.

5.2 Facilitate inclusion of climate Policy-level officials and community


change risks in sectoral representatives
development plans such as
Sectoral Master Plans Project Management Team: Officials from
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
5.3 Improve land use planning
Water.
process by including climate
change adaptation measures.
Risks and barriers
Short term outputs 4 Difficulties in differentiating
between current adaptation
Development plans, land use plans and
requirements and future
sectoral master plans include climate
requirements during community
change adaptation aspects.
consultations.

Outcome 4 Some development plans,


especially master plans have
Streamline development plans to include
already been developed to
climate change adaptation.
medium term, making it difficult
to incorporate climate change
Implementation
adaptation measures in the
short-term.
Institutional arrangement
4 Requires coordination and
Lead agency cooperation from a number of
different government
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
departments and community
Water
groups.

Partner agencies 4 Human resource limitations in


outer islands and government
National Disaster Management Centre; departments
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry
of Planning and National Development;
67 Adaptation Projects - Project 5

4 Trained staff retention at the


specified field and location

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total Project Cost: US$975,000


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 68

Project Enabling adaptation of tourism businesses and


tourism dependent communities to predicted
6 climate change and variability

Rationale combined cost (direct and indirect) to


tourist resorts and loss of Government
Tourism with 87 resorts and 18,447 revenue from the tourism sector in excess
beds is the most dominant and fastest of US$300 million as a result of the
growing economic sector in the Maldives. Indian Ocean tsunami.
In 2003 it accounted for 32.7% of GDP,
and employed over 56% of the working Climate projections for the Maldives,

population. The sector also provides including those related to variability and

employment and other opportunities in extreme events, pose a significant risk to

transport, communication, agriculture, tourism sector. The consequences will be

distribution and construction as well as felt not only within that sector but also

in the more dispersed local economies. by the individuals, communities,

Additional 10,000 beds are planned over enterprises and entire sectors that are in

the next five years. turn dependent on it. Climate influences


the viability and profitability of tourism,
The tropical small island environment both directly and indirectly. In the sun-
and the marine biological diversity of the sand-and-sea tourism segment, which is
Maldives are the unique marketable the mainstay of tourism in the Maldives,
assets of the tourism sector. The reef climate is a key determinant in choosing
ecosystems of Maldives are the seventh a destination. At the same time adverse
largest in the world and their diversity is conditions impact on the tourist
amongst the richest in the world. Coral experience and, in extreme situations, on
reefs also represent natural sea-defence their health and safety and on the
acting to buffer tourist resort beaches reputation of the country as a tourist
from wave action and are important as destination.
habitat for reef fish. But the small islands
and their rich biological diversity is Although tourism sector is pursuing

among the most vulnerable and least sound environmental management there

defensible in the world. The resorts are are no direct efforts to adapt to the

vulnerable due to its low elevation, significant, and growing, risks as a

smallness, fragile ecosystems, consequence of climate change. The

remoteness, and geographical dispersion. main barriers are lack of capacity,

Their vulnerability is evident by the including awareness, knowledge, trained


69 Adaptation Projects - Project 6

personnel, institutional support, and the infrastructure due to climate variability


inability to finance measures that reduce and change will devastate the Maldivian
risks which have external origins. There is economy. Product diversification by the
a need for urgent action to address these tourism industry is thus an essential
barriers. adaptation measure to reduce this
dependency, and hence the level of risk
In the absence of this project, the
to the overall economy, and to society.
Government, the private sector, and the
Concerted effort is required to find
communities that depend on tourism
alternative tourism products to beaches
activities would not be able to factor the
and reefs. Options could include cultural
risks of climate change, including climate
attractions and adventure activities such
variability, in their short and long term
as traditional sailing, as well as
planning to ensure the sustainability of
establishing convention centres to host
the tourism sector. The tourism sector is
international meetings and promote
already experiencing damage to the
ecotourism. Promotion and uptake of
environment and natural resources that
insurance for resort investments, is also
are consistent with climate change. 45%
required to ensure adequate cover by
of tourist resorts currently suffer from
insurance policies for natural disasters
beach erosion. The effects of sea surface
and other extreme events. Adaptation
warming on coral reefs in the Maldives
initiatives that reduce climate-related
are reflected in the increased incidence
risks to the tourism sector will need to be
of coral bleaching and mortality events.
taken across the full spectrum of players,
Coral bleaching events occurred in the
from the individual tourist resort
Maldives in 1977, 1983, 1987, 1991,
operator to governmental and inter-
1995, 1997 and 1998, with the latter
governmental organisations, and at
being the most severe as almost all the
diverse locations both within and outside
shallow reefs in the country were
the Maldives.
impacted. Bleaching events, as well as
slow recovery, have significant This project will identify and implement
consequences for the tourist sector as practical, on-the-ground adaptation
well as for global biodiversity. Other measures to accelerate the process of
vulnerabilities due to climate change reducing the vulnerability of the tourism
include salt water intrusion impacting on sector in the Maldives to climate change.
the availability of fresh water and on The project will contribute to wider
human health, and terrestrial biodiveristy understanding of climate change impacts
on tourism, including adaptation
In an average tourist resort with 200
opportunities in other island
beds the investment is over US$ 13
destinations, coastal zones, and for
million and is over US$ 43 million for
tourism worldwide and thus generate
the modern super-luxury resorts. Loss, or
substantial global environmental
even under-utilization, of such
benefits.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 70

Description Short-term outputs

4 A capacity enhancement action


Goal plan for adaptation of the
tourism sector
to develop and implement adaptation
initiatives that will reduce climate-related 4 Enhanced capacity of key players

risks to tourism sector, tourism in, or related to tourism to better

dependent communities and to tourism's manage and undertake initiatives

natural resource base. that will reduce climate-related


risks
Objective 1: Strengthen capacity of the 4 Tourism climate change
tourism sector to develop policy and plan information baseA targeted
for, and implement, adaptation activities climate risk profile for the
designed to reduce climate-related risks tourism sector
to the tourism sector.
Outcome
Activities
Improved understanding of specific
1.1 Develop a capacity enhancement climate related risks to tourism and an
plan to strengthen the enabling enabling environment to address those
environment for adaptation by risks.
the tourism sector
Objective 2: Demonstrate adaptation
1.2 Build the capacity of key players measures that will reduce climate change
to coordinate, manage, risks to tourism
undertake, monitor and evaluate
initiatives that will reduce Activities
climate-related risks
2.1 Select high priority adaptation
1.3 Gather information to ensure measures for demonstration
existence of required information
2.2 Implement appropriate
base including technical, policy,
demonstration adaptation
economic and environmental
initiatives, including uptake of
information.
technologies
1.4 Prepare a targeted climate risk
2.3 Implement demonstration
profile for the tourism sector of
adaptation measures for reef
the Maldives, with risk
conservation
conditions such as high sea
surface temperatures, and the
2.4 Undertake demonstration of
consequences such as coral
beach erosion management
bleaching.
71 Adaptation Projects - Project 6

2.5 Assess the costs and benefits of Outcome


the demonstration initiatives
Increased use of good practices in
2.6 Develop a climate change adaptation by the tourism sector.
adaptation implementation
strategy for the sector Implementation

Short-term outputs Institutional arrangement:


4 Completed adaptation
Lead agency
demonstration projects

4 Report on the costs and benefits Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
of adaptation measures
Partner agencies
4 A tourism adaptation
implementation strategy
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
Water; Maldives Association of Tourism
Outcome
Industry; National Chamber of
Effectiveness of tourism adaptation Commerce and Industry; Ministry of
demonstrated and communicated Planning and National Development;
leading to a more resilient tourism Ministry of Economic Development and
sector. Trade; National Disaster Management
Center
Objective 3: Increase understanding of
climate change adaptation policies and Project Steering Committee

measures in the tourism sector


An inter-ministerial committee with

Activities participation of private sector and NGOs


will be established to provide project
1.1 Prepare a synthesis of the coordination execution, monitoring and
adaptation projects, with evaluation.
particular emphasis on: a) the
enabling environment; b) Project Management

implementation process; c) costs


Full time staff will be recruited to
and benefits of adaptation; and
manage the project.
d) replication and up-scaling;

Short-term outputs Risks and barriers


4 Synthesis report of adaptation 4 Low human resource capacity in

projects the lead agency.

4 Co-ordination among a number


of different stakeholders
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 72

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. The project will
comply with donor M&E requirements as
well.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$ 765,000


73 Adaptation Projects - Project 7

Project Improve resilience of Island communities to

7 climate change and variability through


sustainable building designs.

Rationale coastline. Majority of the islands, have


more than 50% of their housing
The low elevation and small size of structures within 100m of coastline.
islands, makes the population highly
vulnerable to the predicted rise in sea There is currently low adaptive capacity

level and frequent and more intense due to insufficient knowledge, limited

extreme weather events. human resources in institutions and poor


regulatory framework. The current
Over the last 6 years more than 90 building code does not take climate
inhabited islands have been flooded at change associated impacts into account
least once and 37 islands have been and the linkage is poorly understood due
flooded regularly or at least once a year. to inadequate information dissemination.
Coastal erosion has been reported in
97% of inhabited islands in 2004, of Description
which 64% reported severe coastal
erosion. While land reclamation has Goal: Better and stronger buildings to

become the solution to alleviate increase resilience of island communities

population pressure this increases to climate change and variability.

exposure of the island and attracts


Objective 1: Ensure climate change
settlements to the more vulnerable area.
adaptation is incorporated into the
The average width of inhabited islands is regulatory framework concerning design
566m resulting in most settlements to and construction of public and private
be within close proximity from the structures.
coastline. There is little opportunity for
communities to retreat inland. It has Activities
been found that 44% of the settlement
1.1 Assess risks from current and
footprints of all islands are within 100m
predicted climate hazards to
of coastline which translates to 47% of
existing structures and building
all housing structures and 42% of the
designs.
population being within 100m of
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 74

1.2 Conduct feasibility study for Objective 2: Create enabling


retrofitting existing housing environment for establishing climate
structures and incorporating resilient structures
adaptation measures into new
housing structures. Activities

1.3 Review existing regulatory 2.1 Conduct awareness programmes

framework to identify gaps and across the country to increase

limitations in relation to climate public knowledge on climate

change adaptation change related hazards, promote


climate resilient structures and
1.4 Revise the building code to introduce changes to Building
incorporate minimum climate Code
change and disaster resilience
measures. 2.2 Develop climate risk assessment
tools to assess vulnerability of
Short-term outputs structures and hazard zones
4 Assessment report identifying within focus islands
current and predicted climate
2.3 Construct demonstration
hazards to existing buildings and
structures in the most vulnerable
building designs
zones of selected focus islands
4 Feasibility study for retrofitting
existing housing structures and 2.4 Establish an upgrade assistance
incorporating adaptation fund to facilitate speedy
measures into new housing transformation of most critical
structures. structures and structures of

4 Review of existing regulatory vulnerable groups in focus

framework islands.

4 Revised building code with


2.5 Train staff from key
climate change and variability implementation agencies to
adaptation measures develop capacity in sustainable
housing and public social
Outcome
infrastructure design.

Existing structures and future


Short-term outputs
construction regulated to mandate
minimum climate resilience 4 A number of public awareness
campaigns conducted nationwide

4 Climate risk assessment toolkit


developed for focus island.
75 Adaptation Projects - Project 7

4 Demonstration structures Risks and barriers


developed in selected 10 focus
4 High costs of Upgrade Assistance
islands
Fund
4 An upgrade assistance fund
4 Reluctance amongst individuals
established
to upgrade existing structures
4 Human resources developed in based on a predicted risk.
key public infrastructure
4 Difficulties in enforcing building
implementation agencies.
code in existing structures, if they
require considerable
Outcome
modification.
Increase public awareness and speedy 4 Potential increase in initial
establishment of climate resilient capital costs for structures built in
structures nationwide major hazard zones

4 Trained staff retention at the


Implementation
specified field and location.

Institutional arrangement:
.Evaluation and monitoring
Lead agency
The project will be monitored according
Ministry of Construction and Public to the national M&E standards set by
Infrastructure President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
Partner agencies annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry
donor finance agency requirements on
of Planning and National Development;
M&E will be fulfilled.
Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development; Ministry of Environment,
Financial resources
Energy and Water; National Disaster
Management Centre.
Total Project Cost: US$1,970,000

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, selected Island


Development Committee members and
Maldives Architects Association.

Project Management Team

Officials from Ministry of Construction


and Public Infrastructure.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 76

Project Enhance adaptive capacity to manage climate


change related risks to water resources through
8 increasing knowledge, strengthening regulatory
framework and adoption of appropriate new
technologies.

Rationale groundwater aquifer would decrease or


eliminate groundwater as a water
Quality and availability of water is resource affecting livelihood activity of
critically linked to quality of life for agriculture and damaging the terrestrial
people living in islands with very scarce environment of islands.
water resources. Groundwater is the
primary source of water for non-potable Climate change related impacts on the

uses such as bathing and washing in all aquifer will be exacerbated as current use

the inhabited islands of Maldives except of groundwater aquifers exceeds the

Male'. supply. The proximity of the aquifer to


the surface not only makes the
Groundwater in the islands is a freshwater lens easily accessible but also
component of a precarious hydrological highly susceptible to contamination.
system. The freshwater aquifer is a Salinisation of aquifers is already a
shallow lens of freshwater floating on top serious issue in the more vulnerable
of the saline water found on average at 1 islands due to over-extraction.
to 1.5m below the surface and is no
more than a few meters thick. The Surface water is generally lacking in the

quality and the quantity of freshwater in islands and where natural water

the aquifer vary from island to island as catchment areas are found they are

it is determined by net rainfall recharge, currently undervalued. Catchments are

size of the islands and permeability of often reclaimed for additional land or

the soil column. used as waste disposal areas. In most


instances the catchments are found close
The low-lying nature of the islands makes to the sea and highly vulnerable to storm
the groundwater aquifer vulnerable to surge flooding caused by the projected
salinization due to storm surge flooding rise in sea level. Catchments are also
and saltwater intrusion caused by rising susceptible to drought conditions caused
sea levels. Over the last 6 years more by variability in rainfall patterns. The
than 90 islands (45% of all islands) have human impacts often undermines the
been flooded at least once and 37 important role that catchments play in
islands have been flooded regularly or at natural stormwater drainage and flood
least once a year. Salinisation of the control.
77 Adaptation Projects - Project 8

In the absence of this project there will risks to the aquifer systems due
be lack of information on the risks to the to climate change-related
integrity of groundwater aquifers and hazards.
catchments. The hydrology, hydrogeology
1.3 Assess the hydrology and
and recharge dynamics of aquifers are
hydrogeology of natural water
poorly understood now. Laws, policies
catchment areas and their
and regulations on water resource
potential as a reservoir and as
management is insufficient or absent
stormwater flood control.
leading to weak institutional capacity.
Continued pressure on water resources
1.4 Study options to protect and
would result in loss of adaptive capacity
manage groundwater aquifers at
for climate change impacts.
local level.

Description Short-term outputs

4 List of islands for risk analysis and


Goal
demonstration activities.

Better understanding of the dynamics of 4 Report on coral island aquifer


water resources, their relationship to dynamics and climate change-
climatic hazards and enhanced related risks to aquifers.
institutional and technological capacity 4 Status of natural water catchment
to manage climate change-related risks areas and their potential as a
to water. reservoir and stormwater flood
control determined.
Objective 1: Gain knowledge on the
4 Cost-benefit-analysis of different
dynamics of groundwater aquifers and
tools and methods for aquifer
natural water catchment areas to better
management.
understand climate change-related risks
to aquifers. Outcome

Activities Better knowledge on characteristics of


groundwater aquifers, long term risks to
1.1 Identify the islands most
aquifers from climate change and ways to
vulnerable to climate change as
manage risks.
starting point for conducting risk
analysis.

1.2 Assess groundwater aquifers to


understand the hydrology,
hydrogeology and recharge
characteristics and identify the
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 78

Objective 2: Strengthen the policy and Outcome


regulatory framework for groundwater
Better water resources management
protection and preservation to build
through implementation of applicable
adaptive capacity of aquifers.
policy and enforcement of regulations.

Activities
Objective 3: Acquire and demonstrate
2.1 Review existing regulations on sound water technologies suitable to
water resources management small coral island environment.
and landuse planning to
Activities
incorporate climate change-
related risk management.
3.1 Demonstrate infiltration gallery
technology in selected islands.
2.2 Develop policies, standards and
guidelines for management of
3.2 Undertake an in-depth
groundwater aquifers in
assessment of solar desalination
inhabited islands.
technology and pilot test the
technology in a selected
2.3 Provide technical assistance for
location.
the development and
implementation of management
3.3 Demonstrate aquifer recharging
plans for water catchment areas
technologies in selected
by communities.
vulnerable islands.

2.4 Sensitize water users to prevent


3.4 Identify and test other
salinisation caused by over-
appropriate technologies to
extraction and saltwater
prevent groundwater
intrusion.
salinisation.

Short-term outputs
3.5 Identify and document the
4 Draft regulations that address lessons from demonstration sites
climatic risks to groundwater and develop replicable Aquifer
aquifers. System Management Guidelines.
4 Policies, standards and guidelines
Short-term outputs
for management of groundwater
aquifers in inhabited islands 4 Applicability of infiltration gallery
and barrier removal for
4 Management plans for water
implementation determined.
catchment areas.
4 In-depth technology assessment
4 Awareness materials and
on solar desalination.
programmes prevention of
salinisation. 4 Demonstration of solar
79 Adaptation Projects - Project 8

desalination technology in a Project Management


selected island.
Full time project staff will be recruited.
4 Costs and benefits of aquifer
recharging determined.
Risks and barriers
4 Technology options identified
4 Lack of human resources.
and tested.
4 Fragmented and unclear mandate
4 Compilation of lessons learned
leading to coordination issues on
on appropriate technology and
water management.
implementation at local level.

4 Aquifer System Management


Evaluation and monitoring
Guidelines.
The project will be monitored according
Outcome
to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
Enhanced adaptive capacity of
progress reports, expenditure reports,
communities to address vulnerabilities of
annual monitoring reports will be
water resources through adoption of
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
technologies.
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.
Implementation

Institutional arrangement Financial resources

Lead agency Total project cost: US$675,000

Ministry of Environment, Energy and


Water

Partner agencies

Ministry of Housing and Urban


Development, Ministry of Atolls
Development, Ministry of Planning and
National Development, Ministry of
Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine
Resources, Maldives Water and Sanitation
Authority

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, community


representatives, private sector and NGOs
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 80

Project Promotion of health, creation of effective


structures and implementation of policies and
9 measures to reduce health vulnerability to
climate change.

Rationale prevented by reducing the vulnerability


of the natural and social systems. Thus,
There is overwhelming scientific evidence there is a clear need for adaptation
of past and future global climate change. measures to protect human health under
There are credible established links climate change and climate variability.
between climate change and the health Planned adaptation to the health impacts
of the population. The NAPA of the of climate change comprises a broad
Maldives mainly predicts changes in range of public health interventions.
frequency, intensity and severity of General measures include building
familiar health risks. Global research has capacity, developing the political
concluded that the global warming will commitment, raising community
alter most of the disease carrying vector's awareness, building strong alliances and
geographic distribution, increase the networks. Specific adaptation measures
reproductive rates, and shorten the include health promotion and health
pathogen incubation period within them. policy development to prevent health
This means a further increase the effects from vector, rodent and food and
incidence of vector borne diseases like water borne diseases, floods and heat
Dengue, scrub typhus and the newly stress. The mobilization of resources
introduced Chikungunya in the Maldives. introduction of incentives to actually
Reemergence of malaria is also a high implement them is also essential.
risk in view of the changing global
epidemiology. Diarrhoeal diseases, Description
typhoid and other water borne diseases
are predicted to increase with the more Goal
frequent and severe incidences of
Promotion of health through
flooding and salinization of water. Poor
development of appropriate policies and
nutrition is likely to exacerbate the
measures and creation of effective
health problems. Direct physical hazards
capable structures that will decrease
from severe storms and flooding is also
health vulnerability to current climate
likely to increase. Heat related illness and
variability and future climate change and
morbidity are also predicted to increase.
increase adaptive capacity in the
Most of these health impacts can be Maldives
81 Adaptation Projects - Project 9

Objective 1: Promote public health policy Objective 2: Build alliances among health
to adapt to climate change and other development sectors for
strategic planning and health promotion
Activities
Activities
1.1 Evaluate the efficacy of current
health policies to address 2.1 Develop methods to integrate
changing patterns of vector- health impact studies into
borne pathogens, flooding, environmental impact
malnutrition, heat stress and assessment and for the
extreme events. participation of health officials in
decision making on EIAs
1.2 Identify based on the review of
existing policies the new policies, 2.2 Develop methods to integrate
strategies and measures to cope healthy islands concept in
with the additional burden of land-use planning
climate change and variability.
2.3 Develop public health guidelines
1.3 Identify barriers to the for the construction industry
implementation of the covering aspects such as
adaptation policies and prevention of mosquito breeding
strategies in construction sites; adequate
ventilation and lighting in houses
1.4 Estimate the additional cost of
and buildings; and convenient
climate change adaptation to the
access to elderly and people with
health sector
special needs.

Short-term outputs
2.4 Undertake a comprehensive
4 Review of existing policies and stakeholder analysis on climate
measures and health
4 Assessment of policy needs and
2.5 Develop a framework to mobilize
barriers
intersectoral action and
4 Cost-benefit analysis of climate
coordination for climate and
change adaptation
health

Outcome 2.6 Undertake a study on effective


community mobilization for
Health policy to address climate change
promotion of public health
adaptation
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 82

Short-term outputs media to raise public awareness

4 EIA guidelines modified to on climate and health issues

include health impact assessment through appropriate training,


exposure and advocacy.
4 Health guidelines for land use
planning developed Short-term outputs
4 Public health guidelines for the 4 Assessment report on
construction industry environmental health
incorporated in the National institutional capacity
Building Code
4 Participation in international
4 Stakeholder participation plan for
conferences, seminars and
health and environment workshops on climate change
developed and health.
4 Strategies for community 4 Awareness materials and public
mobilization in health promotion information
assessed
Outcome
Outcome
Increased national capacity in the
Integration of health concerns in environmental health sector
planning and policy implementation
across development sectors to address Implementation
adaptation to climate change
Institutional arrangement:
Objective 3: Create the capacity to
implement and sustain the health Lead agency
adaptation policies
Ministry of Health
Activities
Partner agencies
3.1 Undertake a national capacity
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
self assessment for the health
Water; Ministry of Housing and Urban
sector on climate and health
Development; Ministry of Planning and
3.2 Provide education and training National Development; Ministry of Atolls
opportunities for public health Development; Ministry of Construction
officials and medical and Public Infrastructure
practitioners on climate related
Project Steering Committee
diseases prevention, control and
management.
Policy-level officials, community
representatives, private sector and NGOs
3.3 Increase the capacity of the
83 Adaptation Projects - Project 9

Project Management

An inter-agency Project Management


Committee will be established and a
project office set up. Full time project
staff will be recruited. Technical support
groups will be established as needed.

Risks and barriers

Understanding and translating the


project's strategies and methods of work
into plans and actions that are
compatible with short-term priorities and
traditions of island communities.

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. Donor requirements
on M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$ 165,000


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 84

Project On-the-ground demonstration of effectiveness of


waste management at regional level to protect
10 coral reefs, human health and water resources
for increased adaptive capacity to climate
change

Rationale reef integrity and, reduce the ability of


the reef to keep up with sea level rise.
Inadequate waste management increases The ability of coral reefs to recover from
the vulnerability of coral reefs and water bleaching and maintain growth rate may
resources to the impacts of climate be compromised by the improper
change through reducing their natural disposal of waste in the marine
adaptive capacity. Poor waste environment.
management is also one of the root
causes of poor environmental conditions Vector borne diseases such as dengue

that increase the vulnerability of human and scrub typhus are now major public

health. health concerns in the country.


Epidemiological data shows changes in
Current arrangements for solid waste the seasonal nature of dengue and
management on the inhabited islands continued high prevalence from mid
are inadequate. Most wastes are dumped 2005. Scrub Typhus which was endemic
onto the island foreshore or burnt at low 60 years ago reemerged in 2002 with
combustion temperatures. As a result mortality rates as high as 10%. There is
leachate and unconsolidated waste enter also high morbidity caused by water-
the lagoon causing pollution of the reef borne diseases particularly
system. Non-biodegradable waste such gastroenteritis. From 15,000 cases in
as plastic bottles is accumulated in open 2004 number of cases increased by
dumping areas often creating breeding almost 50% to 21,000 cases in 2005.
grounds for mosquitoes and other The random and unsegregated dumping
disease causing vectors. of waste is one of the main causes for
breeding grounds for vectors and
The coral reefs of the Maldives are
contamination of water.
important for its biodiversity value,
coastal defence functions and its At present significant investment is being
contribution to the tourism and fisheries made to provide waste management
sectors. The predicted increase in SST will infrastructure at island level. In the
cause coral bleaching. Increased absence of this project, routine collection
bleaching coupled with reduced and transfer of the waste for processing,
calcification will affect coral growth and recycling and proper disposal is unlikely.
85 Adaptation Projects - Project 10

There is a need to ensure sustainable government regulations and


management of waste at island level to lessons learned from existing
prevent marine pollution and threats to facilities.
human health. Waste management is
1.5 Undertake construction of the
one of the objectives in the 7NDP.
facility in accordance with
approved design.
Description
1.6 Identify and procure necessary
Goal
equipments and provide training

Effective management of waste to reduce to staff on operation and

human stresses on biodiversity, human maintenance.

health and water resources for increasing


1.7 Undertake feasibility study for
their adaptive capacity to climate change
the regional waste transfer
and variability.
system.

Objective 1: Establish a model waste


Short-term outputs
management system at regional scale
4 Site selected based on pre-
that can be replicated and upscaled
defined criteria.
across the Maldives.
4 Types and quantities of waste
Activities generated determined.

4 Options for establishment of


1.1 Select the region based on
RWMF identified.
sectoral consultation and an
assessment of national 4 Design and detailed engineering

development and environmental drawings

management priorities. 4 Structure for RWMF established.

4 RWMF equipped for waste


1.2 Undertake a detailed waste
processing and management and
characterisation survey for all
training provided to staff.
the inhabited, industrial and
tourism islands of the region. 4 Feasible options for waste
transfer identified.
1.3 Undertake feasibility study of the
potential sites within the region Outcome
and recommend most
Model Regional Waste Management
appropriate site.
Facility (RWMFs) and regiona waste

1.4 Propose design with detailed transfer system established.

engineering drawings, of the


facility in accordance with
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 86

Objective 2: Create the enabling commercialisation of waste


management services.
environment for regional level
waste management. 2.8 Develop a monitoring and
evaluation system to ensure
Activities compliance with regulations and
standards.
2.1 Develop a regional waste
management plan with Short-term outputs
appropriate stakeholder
4 An agreed plan for region wide
consultations that includes,
waste management system.
collection, transfer, processing
4 Policy framework and draft
and disposal.
regulations on regional level
2.2 Develop policies and regulations waste management.
to enable regional level waste 4 Institutions and respective roles
management. and responsibilities defined.

2.3 Develop the organizational and 4 Legal framework for cost-

management framework for recovery

regional level waste 4 Quality assurance system for


management. operation and maintenance of
RWMFs and transfer system.
2.4 Establish the legal basis for
4 Community workshops,
introducing a pricing structure
awareness materials
and arrangements for levying
fees for waste management 4 A clear investment climate for

services with sanctions private sector established.

4 An operational M&E system.


2.5 Revise and improve existing
criteria, standards and guidelines Outcome
for operation of RWMFs and
transfer system. Stress on the ecosystems and human
health reduced through sound waste
2.6 Conduct public education and management.
awareness programmes on
reducing, segregation, reusing Implementation
and proper disposal of waste.
Institutional arrangement
2.7 Enable private sector
participation in operation and Lead agency
maintenance through developing
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
the regulatory framework for
Water
87 Adaptation Projects - Project 10

Partner agencies

Ministry of Atolls Development, Island


Offices, Atoll Offices, Ministry of Planning
and National Development, Ministry of
Construction and Public Infrastructure,
Ministry of Finance and Treasury,
Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, community


representatives, private sector and NGOs

Project Management

Full-time project staff will be recruited.

Risks and barriers

Gaps in the island level governance


framework.

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: USD2.8 million


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 88

Project Preventing coral and sand mining from coral


reefs, lagoons and beaches to maintain their
11 natural status and increase the resilience of
natural environment to climate change.

Rationale has posed numerous challenges in


achieving this goal.
The stability of coral reef and island
coastal environment is known to be two Coral mining and large scale sand mining

crucial factors defining the physical is currently being practiced only in the

vulnerability of land in Maldives. Coral outer atolls especially atolls furthest from

reefs provide protection for islands by Male'. The poorest islands usually are

dissipating wave energy and by providing unable to bear the comparatively high

sediments to keep the islands coastline costs of alternative construction material

at equilibrium. The features of coastline resulting from high transportation costs.

itself are critical to maintain the natural Strong enforcement of mining regulations

adaptive capacity of an island. With the without proper alternatives, also causes

predicted climate change, and associated the risks of most vulnerable groups to

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) rise and increase as their houses are constructed

Sea Level Rise (SLR), the growth of reefs is substandard, exposing them to intense

predicted to be highly limited and the flood and wind damage risks associated

ability of coastlines to naturally adapt with climate change.

has been questioned. These climate


There is an urgent need to develop and
driven root causes of land and reef
deliver an integrated approach to coral
vulnerability is expected to be further
and sand mining, which includes
exacerbated due to human stress. Two
measures to provide affordable
sources of human stress that have a
alternative sources of construction
direct impact on the vulnerability of reefs
material to outer islands, strong
and land is coral and sand mining. Since
enforcement of coral and sand mining
the early 1990's a lot of efforts have
regulations and community involvement
been put into prevent a centuries old
in the coastal zone management. Failure
practice of coral and sand mining,
to deliver such an approach now may
including a ban on coral mining and
seriously hinder the future natural
restrictions on sand mining from
adaptation Maldives to climate change.
beaches. The recent high growth of the
constructed industry in Male' and high The benefits from this project will have
demand for new housing in outer islands far reaching positive impacts on a
89 Adaptation Projects - Project 11

number of sectors and vulnerable groups. 1.2 Develop alternative policy tools
Sectors such as tourism and fisheries to reduce the existing economic
benefit from the better conserved reefs barriers to affordable
and the practice of poor quality housing construction material.
especially in the small outer islands are
1.3 Implement the necessary policy
eliminated, reducing the vulnerability of
tools.
those structures to flood and wind
damage. Experiences from this project
Short term Outputs
can be further replicated to similar
4 Feasibility study for alternate
archipelagic Small Island Developing
sources of construction material
States to manage critical natural
in outer atolls.
resources that are in high demand from
both a human activity and a 4 Policy tools developed to

conservation perspective. removed economic barriers to


provide construction material in
This project is expected to deliver an outer atolls
integrated set of activities to address the
4 Appropriate policy tools
key problems in eliminating and
implemented
managing coral and sand mining.
Outcome
Description
Affordable alternatives sources of
Goal construction material available in outer
islands
Reduce and eliminate coral and sand
mining in the outer islands to ensure Objective 2: Enable the enforcement of
optimum conditions for natural coral and sand mining regulations
adaptation of natural environment to
climate change. Activities

Objective 1: Provide affordable 2.1 Strengthen the capacity of island


and atoll administrations to
alternative sources of construction
enforce regulations. This will
material.
include training on coastal
Activities management and designation of
staff responsible for monitoring
1.1 Undertake feasibility study for enforcement.
sustained provision of alternate
sources of construction material 2.2 Enhance public awareness of the

in outer atolls. impacts of coral and sand mining


and the regulations prohibiting
such activities.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 90

2.3 Develop mechanisms to 3.3 Develop awareness within


determine compliance with construction groups or
regulations. companies using targeted
workshops and leaflets.
Short term Outputs

4 Capacity within atoll and island Short term Outputs

administration enhanced for 4 A number of awareness


enforcement of coral and sand campaigns conducted for NGOs,
mining regulations. IDCs and WDCs to improve

4 A number of public awareness understanding of coral and sand

activities conducted to mining impacts in relation to

disseminate knowledge on climate change adaptation.

impacts of coral and sand mining 4 A number of community


and the regulations prohibiting involvement activities in
such activities. monitoring coral and sand

4 Compliance monitoring system. mining activities supported.

4 A number of community
Outcome involvement activities in
monitoring coral and sand
Improved enforcement of coral and sand
mining activities supported.
mining regulations

Outcome
Objective 3: Facilitate community role in
awareness building and regulation Community involvement in coastal
enforcement. management increased

Activities
Implementation
3.1 Develop awareness within
Institutional arrangement
NGO's, IDCs and WDCs on
climate change risks and the
Lead agency
impacts of coral and sand
mining on future adaptation Ministry of Environment, Energy and
efforts. Programs would include Water
awareness raising workshops
Partner agencies
conducted at atoll or island level

Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry


3.2 Support the efforts for
of Housing and Urban Development;
community involvement in
Atoll and Island Offices.
monitoring sand and coral
mining regulation compliance.
91 Adaptation Projects - Project 11

Project Steering Committee Financial resources

Policy-level officials and community Total Project Cost: US$375,000


representatives

Project Management Team

Officials from Ministry of Environment,


Energy and Water.

Risks and barriers


4 Mining sand could continue to be
cheaper than imported
alternatives especially for poorer
communities

4 Import dependence on
construction industry increases

4 Subsidies might have to be


permanent creating a financial
burden on government

4 Potential overlaps and


administrative conflicts between
island administration and
community groups in enforcing
regulations

4 Human resource limitations in


outer islands

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 92

Project Accumulate knowledge and communicate


practical information to raise public awareness
12 and increase political commitment to adapt to
the health risks to the Maldivian population from
climate change

Rationale through focus on health promotion and


disease prevention and cooperation
Changes in the climate system pose a among different sectors of society to
range of severe health risks to the ensure that people have access to the
population of the Maldives. The NAPA prerequisites for health. The long term
identified health effects from vector, goal is to protect people from
rodent, food and water borne diseases, environmental risks related to climate
floods, and heat stress. According to the change and achieve community
recent scientific evidence climate change participation. International cooperation
has already started to occur, and even in would be used to fill the knowledge gap
the best scenarios the people are going and the knowledge gained will be shared
to face direct and indirect health effects with small island developing states and
over the coming decades. other countries that may have to deal
with the same or similar health problems
However, the morbidity due to the
caused by climate change.
majority of these effects can be
decreased by implementing suitable
Description
adaptation policies. Successful planned
adaptation depends on knowledge about Goal
the types of health risks and the effective
response strategies. The information Acquire knowledge on the types of health
needs to be disseminated through an risks to the Maldivian population from
effective communication strategy to the climate change, and effectively
public to raise awareness and to the communicate to the public and key
political and community leaders to stakeholders information to facilitate
increase political commitment for prevention of climate change related
adaptation. diseases for effective adaptation.

Principles of Health For All, the Ottawa


Charter and the Adelaide Declaration
guided the outcomes and activities of this
project. This project translates the HFA
principles vis a vis climate change
93 Adaptation Projects - Project 12

Objective1: Fill the knowledge gap on increase future adaptive capacity


types of health risks to Maldivians from identified

climate change and find innovative and 4 Information and knowledge


appropriate response measures to sharing at regional and
prevent climate change related health international level.
issues and diseases
Outcome
Activities
Greater knowledge on health risks from
1.1 Conduct targeted research and climate change and better understanding
strengthen disease surveillance of practical measures to adapt to climate
to analyze and understand the change related diseases
relationship between health and
Objective 2: Build the capacity to
climate change in the Maldives.
undertake research, disseminate
1.2 Undertake inter-agency information and raise public awareness
collaborative efforts to assess the on climate related health risks and
existing adaptive capacity in the preventive measures through an effective
health sector and identify communication strategy
practical new measures to
increase adaptive capacity Activities

1.3 Participate in and contribute to 2.1 Train medical practitioners and


regional level and international public health officials to
level efforts to better understand undertake progressive research
the climate related health risks on climate change related
and measures to address the diseases in the Maldives
risks.
2.2 Develop a communication
Short-term outputs strategy on climate change and

4 Assessment report on health and health

climate change that describes the


2.3 Enable comprehensive,
current baseline conditions,
consistent and continuous
future data needs and analytical
awareness raising campaign,
tools
through development of
4 Adaptive capacity baseline for information materials, providing
coping with current climate publicity, doing health audits
change determined including and cooperating with the media.
existing policies, key stakeholder
attitudes and level of awareness

4 Specific policies and practices to


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 94

Short-term outputs representatives, private sector and NGOs

4 Research training needs identified will be responsible for all planning and

and priority training provided major decision making. The steering


committee should have well-defined
4 National communication strategy
responsibilities, representative
on climate change and health
membership, efficient working structures
4 Public awareness materials and
and clear, but flexible procedures.
activities
Project Management: A project
Outcome Management committee, project office
and technical support groups will be
Health policy makers well-informed on
established to assist in the day to day
need for climate change adaptation,
running of the project.
greater public awareness on the
relationship between climate change and Full time project staff will be recruited.
health and higher commitment for co-
operative efforts for promotion of health Risks and barriers

Implementation The health priorities at the island level at


this moment may be more towards
Institutional arrangement establishing health care physical facilities
rather than preventing diseases. Thus
Lead agency
there may be a need to sensitize

Ministry of Health politicians on the strategies and methods


of work outlined in this project
Partner agencies
Evaluation and monitoring
Department of Public Health;
Department of Medical Services; Ministry Establishing accountability for the project
of Environment, Energy and Water; is absolutely essential for the success of
Ministry of Housing and Urban the project and the project will be
Development; Ministry of Planning and monitored according to the national M&E
National Development; Ministry of standards set by President's Office and
Construction and Public Infrastructure; MPND. Quarterly progress reports,
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry expenditure reports, annual monitoring
of Information and Arts; Male' reports will be submitted to MPND.
Municipality. Donor requirements on M&E will be
fulfilled.
Project Steering Committee

A steering committee comprising of Financial resources


policy-level officials, community
Total project cost: US$ 375,000
95 Adaptation Projects - Project 13

Project Build the information base on vulnerability of

13 reef fishery to the predicted impacts of climate


change and variabilities to determine adaptation
measures required for integrated reef fishery
management.

Rationale Maldives experienced extensive coral


bleaching in 1998 where almost all
Reef fishery is a livelihood activity shallow reefs were affected. Communities
associated with both tourism and changed dramatically in some instances.
exports. Groupers, live-tropical fish and Large areas of reef flats were bleached
sea-cucumber are fished exclusively for affecting habitats of reef associated
export while lobsters and other reef fish species and the reef fishery. For example,
are harvested to meet demands of an analysis of aquarium fish exports
tourism sector. The largest fishing showed that two species exported in
industry, the tuna fisheries is dependent large numbers before 1998 bleaching
on reef fishery for livebait. Reef fishery is event disappeared from exports following
also significant for food security. the bleaching. Both of these species feed
predominantly on acropora polyps which
The predicted climate change such as
were most affected during the bleaching.
increasing SST would adversely affect the
reef fishery through impacts on coral Overexploitation, catch of immature fish
reefs and the conditions of the pelagic and intensive fishing during spawning
environment in which the reef species periods exacerbates the vulnerability of
thrive. Reef fish are almost entirely reef fishery. The current regulatory
dependent on coral reefs as breeding framework addresses aquarium fishery,
grounds. Many reef species are known to sea-cucumber and lobsters while grouper
have seasonal spawning cycles which fishery has no regulatory management.
may be disrupted resulting in recruitment Management activities implemented at
failure. In addition, reef fishes have a present include limited bans,
pelagic larval phase ranging from days to prohibitions, setting up quotas, licensing
few weeks. Survival of larvae depends on and levying fees (royalties for fish
favourable conditions of the pelagic exports). However, there are no
environment. Reef fish species are also monitoring procedures in place.
specialists requiring specific types of
habitats within a reef or specific type of This project is intended to strengthen the

food from a reef. management of reef fishery to increase


the resilience of reef fishery dependent
As a result of an episodic increase in SST, communities and ensure sustained
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 96

livelihoods. Reef fishery management is 1.5 Collaborate with overseas


also important for ensuring sustainable centres of excellence in reef fish
tourism development. Integrated reef research to better understand
fishery management is a key objective of the effects of climate change on
the 7NDP. reef fish population.

Description Short-term outputs

4 Comprehensive reef fishery


Goal database.

4 Data collection and reporting


Enhance the knowledge on climate
mechanism established.
change impacts on reef fishery and
integrate adaptation into reef fishery 4 Training programme on data

management. collection and analysis.

4 Targeted research reports on


Objective 1: Improve the understanding
important reef species and their
of potential impacts of climatic hazards
spawning, breeding, foraging
on reef fishery. patterns and conditions and,
mobility of reef species in the
Activities
context of predicted climate

1.1 Improve catch and effort data change and variability.

collection at species level of 4 Assessment on the impacts of


commercial and subsistence reef climate change on reef fishery.
species. 4 Access to information gathered
by other countries on reef
1.2 Develop human resource
fisheries.
capacity at community and
national level to collect and
Outcome
analyse data on reef fishery.
Knowledge essential for increasing
1.3 Study the spawning, breeding,
adaptive capacity of reef fishery
foraging patterns and conditions
acquired.
and, mobility of reef species in
the context of predicted climate
change and variability.

1.4 Undertake an assessment of the


impacts of predicted climate
change on the viability of reef
fishery as a source of livelihood
as well as source of export
revenue.
97 Adaptation Projects - Project 13

Objective 2: Test the applicability of Outcome


existing reef fishery management tools
Regulatory framework for improved
and methods to address adaptation needs
management of reef fishery
of reef fishery.
strengthened.

Activities
Implementation
2.1 Gather knowledge on traditional
reef fisheries management to Institutional arrangement:
identify lessons to enhance
Lead agency
future adaptive capacity.

Marine Research Centre/Ministry of


2.2 Undertake a Cost-Benefit
Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine
Analysis of 'no-take zones' as an
Resources
adaptation measure.

2.3 Test the usefulness of Partner agencies

community-based management
Ministry of Economic Development and
approaches as an adaptation
Trade, Maldives Customs Service, Ministry
measure for reef fishery
of Environment, Energy and Water;
management.
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry

2.4 Raise awareness among key of Finance and Treasury; Atolls Offices;

stakeholders on reef fishery best Island Offices; NGOs

practices.
Project Steering Committee

Short-term outputs
Policy-level officials, community
4 Compilation of lessons learned representatives, private sector and NGOs
from traditional reef fisheries
management. Project Management: Project
management unit will be established.
4 CBA report on 'no-take zones' as
an adaptation tool for reef
fishery.
Risks and barriers

4 Policy recommendations and


4 Human resource constraints in
lead agency.
tools on community-based reef
management. 4 Continuing policy priority to

4 Information dissemination manage the more economically


important tuna fishery.
materials on policies and
regulations.

4 Best practices guide targeted


towards stakeholders.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 98

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$1.5 million


99 Adaptation Projects - Project 14

Project Strengthening capacity of healthcare delivery

14 and streamlining planning of healthcare services


to adapt to climate change related health risks

Rationale coming decades. However the majority of


these effects can be avoided by
Climate change would affect human implementing suitable adaptation
health in the Maldives through pathways policies. It is established that factors such
of differing complexity, scale and timing. as availability of quality health care, the
According to the NAPA direct impacts on status of the health of the population
human health from climate change and availability of technical and other
include exposure to weather extremes resources matters for adaptation.
and increased production of air
pollutants and allergens. Indirect impacts In 2004, there were 6 regional hospitals,

include transmission of infectious 10 atoll hospitals, 65 atoll health centres

diseases especially water- and vector- and 52 health posts distributed across

borne diseases. For vector-borne the Maldives. However, the facilities and

infections the distribution and services in many of these islands are still

abundance of vector organisms and inadequate. Efforts need to be pursued to

intermediate hosts are affected by ensure that all Maldivians, even those

changes in temperature, precipitation, living in remote or small communities,

humidity, flooding and wind. The biotic have equal access to quality primary

factors that contribute to vector-borne health care. At least one health post is

infections include changes in vegetation, needed in each inhabited island. ,

host species, predators, competitors, Setting-up of better and faster

parasites and human interventions. transportation systems to provide

Human stresses such as rapid outreach and emergency care services is

urbanization, over-crowding, improper a must. Moreover, emphasis needs to be

solid waste management, poor sewage placed on the quality of services provided

and wastewater disposal and poor by ensuring that facilities at various levels

nutrition exacerbate quality of health. are adequately staffed and equipped for
the type of care required at each level.
According to the recent scientific
evidence climate change has already Access to medicines is also a major

started to occur, and even in the best challenge in the atolls, especially with

scenarios the people are going to face regard to combating epidemic diseases.

direct and indirect health effects over the In 2004 one in five of the island
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 100

population had difficulties in obtaining control and management of


medicines. There is a need to establish emerging and reemerging
pharmacies on all islands and station diseases
qualified medical staff to prescribe the
1.2 Provide regular in-service
appropriate drugs.
training to service providers on
Currently work is underway to formulate surveillance, detection and
a comprehensive health bill covering management of emerging and
health services, public health aspects, re-emerging climate related
and protection of rights of patients and diseases
service providers. To standardize and
1.3 Establish a responsive integrated
regulate health services, revision of the
disease surveillance system for
standards of different levels of the health
climate change related diseases
system is required. Guidelines for public
health services and climate change
1.4 Strengthen Public Health
related disease management needs to be
Laboratory to detect and
developed.
diagnose emerging and re-
emerging climate related
In the absence of this project, the
diseases
resilience of the Maldives health system
and its capacity to respond effectively to
1.5 Prepare national outbreak
increasing health threats posed by
preparedness plan for public
climate change is likely to be low.
health emergencies

Description 1.6 Provide technical assistance for


development of FHS capacity to
Goal: Development of the institutional, initiate courses on epidemiology,
technical and regulatory capacity for environmental health and health
healthcare services planning and delivery management
to prevent and manage climate-related
health risks. Short-term outputs

4 Training needs assessment and


Objective 1: Build the capacity for
human resource development
control, diagnosis and management of
plan.
climate-related diseases
4 In-service training sessions.

Activities 4 New disease surveillance system


established.
1.1 Undertake a training needs
4 Laboratory equipment and
assessment and develop a
training provided to Public Health
human resource development
Laboratory.
plan targeted at prevention,
101 Adaptation Projects - Project 14

4 Epidemics outbreak preparedness Outcome


plan.
Quality of healthcare delivery and
4 Curriculum, modules, course
accessibility improved.
outlines and teaching-aids on
climate related diseases.
Implementation
Outcome
Institutional arrangement
The emerging/re-emerging climate
Lead agency
related diseases control program in the
country developed and continuously
Ministry of Health
strengthened
Partner agencies
Objective 2: Improve accessibility to
healthcare services and improve quality Department of Public Health,

of healthcare delivery. Department of Medical Services; World


Health Organization;
Activities
Project Steering Committee
2.1 Undertake a financial feasibility
and diagnostic study to facilitate A steering committee comprising of

establishment of community senior health policy officials, hospital

pharmacies managers, private health care providers


and NGOs will be established
2.2 Provide equipment and establish
testing capacity at regional and Project Management
atoll level as per defined scope
Additional full time project staff will be
and level of service for the
recruited to the relevant section of the
health system
Ministry of Health.

Short-term outputs
Risks and barriers
Financial feasibility of community
pharmacies and investment plan. The lack of information and awareness
on climate related diseases is a key
Manuals, operating procedures and barrier. Thus there may be a need to
equipment provided to regional and atoll sensitize politicians on the strategies and
hospital laboratories to diagnose climate methods of work outlined in this project.
change related diseases.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 102

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. Donor requirements
on M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$ 760,000


103 Adaptation Projects - Project 15

Project Improve rainwater harvesting to secure

15 availability of safe water and reduce


vulnerability to changes in precipitation caused
by climate change.

Rationale quality such as diarrhea are currently


causing high morbidity to children and
Rainwater is the main source of drinking adults. The number of cases of acute
water in the atolls. Approximately 90% of gastroentritis increased by 50% from
the atoll population harvested rainwater 15,000 cases in 2004 to 21,000 cases
as the source of drinking water in 2004 in 2005.
while 30% reported drinking water
shortages. This shows the extreme Climate change related risks to water

dependency of the atoll population on supply are not well-understood and weak

rainwater and their vulnerability to water management policies and

changes in rainfall. governance structures hinder the


country's adaptive capacity. Rainwater
The predicted climate change could harvesting is an indigenous practice
affect rainwater supply in the atolls which has ensured water availability to
because of high sensitivity to atolls for centuries and is a solid climate
precipitation patterns, duration and change adaptation measure that needs to
spatial variability and, changes in storm be continued. This project is aimed at
tracks. The alternative source of water in strengthening the capacity for safe
these small tropical islands is rainwater harvesting by the vulnerable
groundwater which is in fact a thin lens atoll population.
of rainwater floating on seawater. As
such this lens is not only vulnerable to Description
changes in precipitation but also to
salinisation caused by storm surge Goal
flooding and saltwater intrusion
Secure availability of safe drinking water
associated with rising sea levels.
for communities through increasing
While rainwater is harvested extensively rainwater harvesting at household and
by households the measures taken to community levels and efficient
ensure quality of collection and storage management of rainwater.
are inadequate. There is no regular
testing of rainwater quality and water
safety. Diseases related to poor water
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 104

Objective 1: Enable household and 4 Manual on rainwater collection


community level rainwater harvesting to and storage distributed.
prevent potable water shortages. 4 Awareness materials.

4 Voluntary contracts on rainwater


Activities
harvesting.
1.1 Assess the number of rainwater 4 Rainwater harvesting
storage tanks in the islands and incorporated into building code.
their capacities to estimate
4 Protocols for use and
rainwater harvesting capacity
management of community
needs.
rainwater tanks.

1.2 Provide rainwater tanks free of


Outcome
charge to needy households and
assist in roof retrofitting where Rainwater harvesting increased to a level
necessary. whereby communities do not face water
shortages during extended dry periods.
1.3 Disseminate guidelines and
standards for rainwater Objective 2: Improve methods and
collection and storage to every practices used in rainwater harvesting
household.
and storage to ensure the rainwater is
safe and of high quality.
1.4 Raise public awareness and seek
community commitment on
Activities
rainwater harvesting.
2.1 Undertake an audit of the
1.5 Make it mandatory to harvest
quality of rainwater harvested in
rainwater from all public
the islands and identify the
buildings.
causes of water contamination

1.6 Develop protocols for use and and poor water quality.

management of community
2.2 Enable water quality testing at
rainwater tanks.
community level.

Short-term outputs
2.3 Develop and publicize protocols
4 Baseline assessment of existing and procedures for regular water
rainwater storage capacity. testing and quality assurance.
4 Storage tanks and retrofitting
Short-term outputs
materials made available.
4 Assessment report on rainwater
4 Guidelines and standards for
quality with recommendations to
rainwater collection and storage.
improve water quality.
105 Adaptation Projects - Project 15

4 Basic water quality testing kits Evaluation and monitoring


provided to 200 islands.
The project will be monitored according
4 National drinking water quality
to the national M&E standards set by
standards and quality assurance
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
system developed.
progress reports, expenditure reports,
Outcome annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
Water related climate risks to human donor finance agency requirements on
health prevented. M&E will be fulfilled.

Implementation Financial resources

Institutional arrangement Total project cost: US$275,000

Lead agency

Maldives Water and Sanitation Authority

Partner agencies

Ministry of Environment, Energy and


Water; Ministry of Health; Ministry of
Planning and National Development;
Ministry of Atolls Development; Atoll
Offices; Island Offices

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, community


representatives, private sector and NGOs

Project Management

Full time project staff will be recruited.

Risks and barriers


4 Lack of technical know-how and
inadequate human resources.

4 Lack of adequate legal framework


to support project activities.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 106

Project Increase resilience of coral reefs to reduce the


vulnerability of islands, communities and reef-
16 dependant economic activities to predicted
climate change.

Rationale inappropriate designs and methods used


in coastal modifications, improper
Maldives is a nation with coral reefs as its sewage disposal and over-exploitation of
geologic setting. The low elevation, small reef fish.
size and unconsolidated nature of coral
islands makes the islands highly reliant Since Maldives is entirely made-up of

on the biological and geomorphologic coral reefs, the reefs of the entire country

functioning of the reef environment for are vulnerable to the effects of future

their stability. Much of the economic climate change. At present, selected

base such as tourism and fisheries, and areas such as reef fishery zones,

livelihood of most Maldivians are directly inhabited island reefs and reefs hosting

linked to the coral reefs. economic activities are most vulnerable


due to human impacts. As a result the
The stability and survival of coral reefs most vulnerable populations of outer
has been questioned with the predicted islands stand inline to be most effected
climate change, particularly the risks by the onset of climate change impacts.
associated with the Sea Surface Populations relying on fishing as the
Temperature (SST) rise and Sea level rise mainstay may find themselves not only
(SLR). Coral reefs are not expected to economically affected but their food
withstand the predicted high SST and as a security affected as well. Closure of
result may not keep up its growth with resorts coupled with decline of fishing
rising sea level, leading to the prediction industry will cause the economies of
that Maldives may disappear in the next entire islands collapse.
100-200 years. Not only does the SST
and SLR threaten physical survival of There are a currently a number of

islands, but also could lead to the loss of hindrances to protect the reef from what

major industries such as tourism and now appears to be an obvious onset of

fisheries industry. The risks linked to climate change. The coral reef and coral

climate change are further exacerbated island environment of Maldives is poorly

due to non-climate related human understood and there are considerable

activities such as sand and coral mining, gaps in scientific research. Research is

snorkeler damage, anchor damage, required on coral reefs, coral islands and
how they naturally adapt to climate
107 Adaptation Projects - Project 16

change so that adaptation measure could Objective 1: Increase the knowledge


be devised. The regulatory framework base and understanding of the natural
and management of human induced adaptation process in coral reefs.
stress on coral reefs and islands are
weak. Capacity to undertake coral reef Activities
protection and minimise human induce
1.1 Synthesize and enhance the
stress is limited. Finally there is an
knowledge on Maldivian reef
apparent lack of awareness amongst the
biology and ecology and its
public, community groups and even
interactions with climate
decision makers.
parameters.

This project aims to overcome much of


1.2 Conduct research on how human
these shortcomings to pave way for
induced stresses such as reef
climate risk adaptation programme for
fishery, tourism, land
coral reefs. There is an urgent need to
reclamation and other
begin understanding how coral
developmental activities affect
environments can adapt to climate
growth and functioning of coral
change and to develop capacity in coral
reefs to facilitate informed
reef management, for a lengthy battle to
decision-making on coral reef
adapt to climate change. Failure to do so
management.
may reduce the window of opportunity
available for adaptation. 1.3 Conduct research to understand
how coral reefs and islands
This project is designed to benefit the
adapt to climate change and
entire country and specifically the most
identify ways and measures
vulnerable groups located in outer
required to enhance the natural
islands. Experiences and findings form
adaptation process. Specific
this project can provide far reaching
attention will be given to the
benefits for the Small Island Developing
modified coastal environments
Countries as a whole.
of inhabited islands.

Description 1.4 Develop a GIS-based national


coral reef database to enable the
Goal
management and analysis of
ecological and socioeconomic
Minimize human stress on coral reefs of
data on coral reefs.
Maldives to facilitate natural adaptation
of reefs and islands in the face of
Short-term outputs
predicted climate change.
4 Research report on coral reef
biology and ecology of Maldives.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 108

4 Research report on influence of between resource protection and


human induced stresses on coral resource usage.
reefs and how they could be
2.4 Develop standards and
reduced.
guidelines for high impact
4 Research report on how coral
coastal development activities,
reefs and islands adapt to climate
especially land reclamation and
change and recommendations on
island access infrastructure
measures to enhance the natural
development.
adaptation process.

4 Maldives Coral Reef Base (MCRB). Short-term outputs

4 Coral reef management


Outcome
framework agreed by key
stakeholders.
Knowledge gap on coral reefs and coral
island adaptation to climate change 4 Institutional roles and

reduced. responsibilities for coral reef


management defined and agreed.
Objective 2: Develop policy and legal
4 Draft regulations relating to
framework to protect and manage coral
resource use between competing
reefs.
industries developed.

Activities 4 Standards and guidelines for high


impact coastal development
2.1 Develop the coral reef activities.
management framework that
enables the relevant institutions Outcome
to designate zones, uses and
Legal and institutional framework for
marine protected areas systems.
coral reef management enhanced.

2.2 Review the existing institutional


Objective 3: Enable the enforcement of
framework to identify gaps and
existing coral reef management
barriers in coral reef
regulations.
management and recommend
roles and responsibilities for
Activities
custodians, users and managers.
3.1 Sensitize public infrastructure
2.3 Develop regulations and conflict
contracting agencies and
resolution mechanisms for
contractors on coral reef
resource use among competing
protection regulations relating to
industries such as fishing and
design and construction of
tourism to ensure balance
coastal developments.
109 Adaptation Projects - Project 16

3.2 Develop the mechanisms for Outcome


public consultation and inquiry
Compliance with coral reef management
in the EIA process.
measures.
3.3 Strengthen the capacity of island
and atoll offices to enforce Objective 4: Reduce human induced and

regulations including training on natural stress on reef environment.

coral reef management and


Activities
designation of staff responsible
for enforcement and monitoring. 4.1 Identify the criteria for the
selection of Marine Protected
3.4 Organize an information
Areas (MPAs).
dissemination campaign to
inform public on all regulations 4.2 Review the effectiveness of
related to coral reef designated MPAs and
management. recommend ways and means to
strengthen MPA management.
3.5 Develop mechanisms to
determine compliance with 4.3 Develop guidelines on different
regulations. reef resource uses.

Short-term outputs 4.4 Develop quotas and control


4 Targeted sensitization programs. methods to prevent over-

4 Best practices on coastal exploitation of specific species,

developments disseminated. ban destructive fishing practices


such as use of chemicals and
4 Provisions for public consultation
explosives and regularly monitor
and inquiry included in the EIA
status of fish stock.
regulations.

4 Training programs conducted for 4.5 Develop monitoring plans for


atoll island administration staff. reef fishery stock.

4 Designated staff for enforcement


4.6 Investigate the effectiveness of
and monitoring.
mooring buoys, navigation aids
4 Roles and responsibilities and and signs in preventing boat
reporting requirements clearly damage on reefs.
defined.
4.7 Develop and establish best
4 Print and audio visual materials
practice guidelines on
on regulations.
snorkelling, diving and water
4 Compliance monitoring system.
sports activities.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 110

Short-term outputs a strategy for human resource

4 Agreed and endorsed criteria for development.

selection of MPAs.
5.3 Develop a comprehensive
4 Report on effectiveness of MPAs training package on coral reef
and next steps. science and management to be
4 Guidelines on different reef integrated into the existing
resource uses. Coastal Zone Management

4 Species-based reef fishery control Training Course (CZMTC).

methods.
5.4 Conduct appropriate training
4 Monitoring plan for reef fishery programmes for atoll and island
stock. office staff on coral reef
4 Cost-benefit-analysis of options management.
to reduce marine transport-
5.5 Carry out awareness among
related impacts on reefs.
NGO's, IDCs and WDCs on
4 Best practice guidelines on
climate change risks and the
snorkeling, diving and water
importance of coral reef
sports activities.
management on future natural
adaptation of islands and reefs.
Outcome

Better managed coral reef environments Short-term outputs

throughout Maldives 4 Organizational plan for a NCRMA.

4 Human resource development


Objective 5: Develop the capacity of
plan with training needs
national organizations and communities
assessment.
to manage coral reef environment.
4 Training modules and teaching

Activities aids on coral reef science and


management.
5.1 Develop the terms of reference,
4 Training given to staff from each
organisational structure and
atoll.
staffing needs for a National
4 Awareness raising workshops and
Coral Reef Management
seminars on reef management.
Authority (NCRMA) with nodal
agencies in the atolls.
Outcome

5.2 Undertake training needs


Coral reefs protected and preserved
assessment to determine the
through well-informed communities and
training requirements for the
knowledgeable staff in organizations.
NCRMA and nodal agencies and
111 Adaptation Projects - Project 16

Implementation 4 Overlaps in mandates between


MEEW and MFAMR relating coral
Institutional arrangement reef management issues.

4 Potential overlaps and


Lead agency
administrative conflicts between
Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and island administration, community
Marine Resources. groups and government
departments in enforcing
Partner agencies regulations

Ministry of Environment, Energy and


4 Potential delays in coastal
development projects'
Water; Marine Research Centre; Ministry
implementation due public
of Atolls Development; Attorney
disagreements over project
General's Office; Ministry of Planning and
components and objections to
National Development; Ministry of
predicted environmental impacts.
Housing and Urban Development;
Ministry of Construction and Public 4 Human resource limitations in
Infrastructure; Atoll and Island Offices. outer islands and government
departments
Project Steering Committee
4 Trained staff retention at the

Policy-level officials and community specified field and location

representatives
Evaluation and monitoring
Project Management Team
The project will be monitored according
Officials from Ministry of Environment, to the national M&E standards set by
Energy and Water and Marine Research President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
Centre. progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
Risks and barriers submitted to MPND. In addition, any

4 Difficulties in persuading public donor finance agency requirements on

in outer islands to predicted M&E will be fulfilled.

impacts rather than existing


conditions. Often developments Financial resources
come to communities after
Total project cost: US$2,315,000
considerable demands and the
public may usually be prepared
to overlook future impacts.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 112

Project Demonstrate on-the-ground wastewater


technologies that can protect groundwater and
17 coral reef resources vulnerable to climate change
stresses.

Rationale infrastructure and options for treatment,


as well as the frequently porous nature of
The ability of Maldives to manage its soils. The access to safe drinking water,
water resources and ecosystems in a the provision of sanitation and the
sustainable manner is crucial to sustain promotion of hygiene are the
livelihoods and social and economic well foundations of human dignity, public
being. Since the islands are small, low- health and economic and social
lying and isolated they are extremely development and are among the
vulnerable to climate change and priorities for Maldives outlined in the
variability influences such as storms, 7NDP. This project will also help the
drought and sea-level rise. These same Maldives achieve MDG targets to halve
islands are globally significant with by 2015 the number of people without
regard to biodiversity, particularly access to basic sanitation, and to halve
because of the richness in diversity and by 2015 the proportion of people
being the seventh largest reef system in without sustainable access to safe
the world. The unique geographic and drinking water.
physical characteristics, as well as the
fragile nature of water resources in the Although the project is targeted to

Maldives impact the health and well- reduce vulnerability to climate change

being of the people, environment and and particularly extreme events, the

economic development. project will lead to many cross-cutting


benefits such as protection of water
Presently there area number of human supplies, address land and marine-based
stresses on water resources caused sources of pollution, related downstream
largely by over-extraction and coastal area management, protection of
deficiencies in waste water management coral reef biodiversity, sustainable
which will exacerbate the risks of saline management of fisheries, and tourism
intrusion through sea-level rise, flooding development.
and changes in precipitation caused by
climate variability and climate change. There is the need to provide support to

The water resources are highly vulnerable expand foundational capacity building in

to water pollution as a result of lack of sewage and wastewater treatment that


will address the key adaptation needs of
113 Adaptation Projects - Project 17

water resources protection, human and wastewater management. There is


health and biodiversity conservation. The also inappropriate policy, legislation,
project will develop capacity and planning and administration.
strengthen efforts to reduce and manage
If the project were not to go ahead then
sewage and wastewater pollution and
the expected general baseline scenario
building capacity for maintaining and
can be deterioration in the quality of
managing systems to deliver integrated
freshwater resources; a general failure in
water and sanitation services, in both
coastal and watershed ecosystem
rural and urban areas. There is a need for
functions along with the loss of
reform and capacity building focusing on
associated natural habitats and
the development of a more cross-cutting
biodiversity; and increased LBS pollution
approach to water resource management
into the coastal environment. This is
that captures the relationship to other
likely to cause a general deterioration of
areas such as land degradation,
human condition manifested in increased
biodiversity and climate change,
poverty, reduced health, failed
particularly adaptation.
livelihoods and an associated
Climatic threats to water supplies deterioration in GDP. Climate change and
include. drought, flooding, storm surge, sea level rise will exacerbate all these
and sea level rise. Inappropriate sewage problems. This serves to highlight the
and wastewater disposal leads to urgency to develop integrated
pollution of marine and freshwater approaches to sewage and wastewater
(including groundwater) from a land- treatment.
based activity; physical, ecological and
hydrological modification of critical Description
habitats and issues of environmental
flow relating to habitat and ecosystem Goal
protection.
Develop the full range of institutional,

Root causes are knowledge deficiency technical, regulatory, and economic

and management deficiencies. There is measures needed to operationalise

insufficient knowledge of waste water wastewater treatment to maintain

treatment methods; insufficient resilience of water resources and coral

education, training and capacity in reef biodiversity in the face of climate

wastewater engineering (at various levels hazards.

including government, private sector and


community) lack of access to, and
awareness of, appropriate technologies
and methodologies for sewage and
wastewater treatment; lack of access to
models and demonstrations of sewage
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 114

Objective 1: Strengthen 4 Interagency committee


established with clearly defined
institutional arrangements for
roles and responsibilities.
effective intersectoral coordination
and management of wastewater Outcome

pollution prevention. Policies, strategies and institutional


arrangements necessary for effective and
Activities
operational wastewater management

1.1 Develop manuals and guidelines established

for best practice on wastewater


Objective 2: Identify and demonstrate on
management
the ground innovative, appropriate and
1.2 Develop a Wastewater Policy and cost-effective wastewater treatment
Wastewater Treatment technologies.
Implementation Strategy.
Activities
1.3 Assess the specific country
training needs and undertake 2.1 Undertake sewage and

initial training for wastewater wastewater treatment

treatment and management. technology assessments focusing


on coral island needs and
1.4 Establish an interagency priorities including a diagnostic
committee to regularly review analysis of areas of critical
implementation of Wastewater concerns related to climate
Policy and Wastewater Treatment change adaptation.
Implementation Strategy.
2.2 Undertake a study on removal of
Short-term outputs barriers to implementation of

4 Manuals and Best Practice sewage treatment strategies.

Guidelines for wastewater


2.3 Develop criteria for
management.
demonstration projects and
4 Wastewater Policy and select islands for demonstration
Wastewater Treatment Strategy. based on criteria.
4 Human resource development
2.4 Implement the demonstration
plan.
projects.
4 Training workshops, study tours
and exposure to wastewater Short-term outputs
treatment and management
4 In-depth wastewater technology
technologies
needs assessment and diagnostic
analysis.
115 Adaptation Projects - Project 17

4 Policies and measures for Short-term outputs


removal of barriers to wastewater 4 Methodology for performance
treatment. review established.
4 Islands selected for 4 Lessons and best practices from
demonstration. demonstration projects
4 Minimum five demonstration documented.
projects implemented. 4 Timely dissemination of results to
stakeholders.
Outcome
4 Post information on SIDSNet and
Demonstrations of sewage and other relevant systems.
wastewater treatment technologies that
target particular concerns and removal of Outcome

barriers relating to the implementation


Capture of lessons, best practices and
of such technologies.
best available technologies for
wastewater management.
Objective 3: Develop mechanisms to
learn the lessons and best practices from
Objective 4: Ensure the financial viability
the project and share the knowledge
for sustainable wastewater treatment
gained
Activities
Activities
4.1 Raise public awareness to create
3.1 Develop standard indicators and
a better recognition of the value
data collection and reporting
of wastewater treatment.
formats to review performance
of demonstration projects. 4.2 Review the legislative reforms
required to introduce fees and
3.2 Review and assess regularly
charges
demonstration projects to
capture lessons and best 4.3 Develop and test strategies for
practices recovering the costs.

3.3 Disseminate final results from 4.4 Position and empower private
demonstration projects for sector and communities to effect
assessment and replication. their own management
strategies for water and
3.4 Implement information sharing
wastewater.
with other Small Island
Developing States Short-term outputs

4 Public awareness materials and


campaigns.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 116

4 Draft framework laws and Risks and barriers


regulations.
4 Technology access
4 Effective cost recovery
4 R& D facilities not available in-
mechanisms identified.
country
4 Provide access to information on
wastewater treatment and Evaluation and monitoring
introduce new regulations on
public and private sector The project will be monitored according
participation. to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
Outcome progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
Identification of sustainable financing
submitted to MPND. Donor requirements
mechanisms for longterm wastewater
on M&E will be fulfilled.
treatment and management.

Financial resources
Implementation
Total project cost: US$ 800,000
Institutional arrangement

Lead agency

Ministry of Environment, Energy and


Water;

Partner agencies

Maldives Water and Sanitation Authority;


Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation;
Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development; Ministry of Planning and
National Development; Ministry of Atolls
Development.

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, community


representatives, private sector and NGOs

Project Management

Full time project staff will be recruited.


117 Adaptation Projects - Project 18

Project Improve the design and construction of access

18 infrastructure in Maldives to increase the


resilience of access infrastructure and island
beaches to climate change.

Rationale change, let alone present severe climatic


events. During the tsunami of 2004,
The importance of sea transport in the 68% of all existing harbours were
socio-economic development of Maldives damaged, some beyond use. Past low
has meant that appropriate and cost designs has also meant that proper
functioning access infrastructure is a considerations for existing coastal
basic necessity in all inhabited islands. processes were sacrificed. A functioning
Unfortunately, such infrastructure is also coastal system is crucial for an islands
highly vulnerable to severe weather natural adaptive response to variation in
events and predicted climate change wave conditions and future sea level rise.
risks. The unconsolidated nature of coral Hence, the poor design and construction
islands and low elevation means than of access infrastructure in Maldives has
the predicted sea level rise and increase caused risks to both the infrastructure
in intensity and frequency of storm itself and island's coastal environment to
activity in the Indian Ocean could increase.
potentially expose access infrastructure
to considerable risks. These climatic root Currently there are more than 127

causes and their potential magnitude of harbours and 3 major ports valued over

damage are exacerbated due to improper US$200 million located within Maldives.

design and construction. High demand An access improvement project initiated

for access infrastructure combined with by the government is expected to provide

massive capital costs associated with harbours to all remaining inhabited

construction, has inadvertently led the islands by 2008. Almost all current

Government to adopt short-term harbours are based on a standard design

solutions by constructing low cost which includes sand-cement bags as

harbours. Maldives being one of the least material for breakwater construction. A

developed countries could not in the past few high cost harbours exists based on

afford the high costs of climate resilient climate resilient designs and their

structures. As a result, majority of the strength was further revealed during the

access infrastructure were poorly tsunami where none of these harbours

designed and constructed, and aren't were damaged.

expected to withstand future climate


Much of the poorly designed
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 118

infrastructure is located in the outer the burden of such a scenario. This


islands with small to medium sized project proposes to minimize these risks
populations. Damage to their access by introducing and enhancing the key
infrastructure may lead a number of components essential to improve the
additional vulnerabilities to the island access infrastructure development and
communities. They include disruption to management in Maldives.
economic activities such as fishing,
agriculture and tourism, loss of income Description
especially amongst the poorest, damage
to fishing vessels, reduced food security Goal
due to poor accessibility and limitations
Improve the resilience of access
in disaster management.
infrastructure and island beaches to

Maldives is at present badly in need to severe weather events and predicted

improve the access infrastructure climate change

development and management in order


Objective 1: Develop climate change
to adapt to future climate change risks.
resilient, environment friendly and cost
Currently, there is a lack of trained
effective engineering solutions for access
coastal engineers to design structures
suitable for a coral island environment, infrastructure

which not only withstands climate risks


Activities
but also considers the preservations of
coastal environment as much as possible. 1.1 Undertake studies to develop
Maldives also lack the scientific access infrastructure engineering
knowledge required to develop solutions based on the current
sustainable coastal infrastructure. climate change scenarios,
Furthermore, there is also a marked lack considering the least impact
of awareness amongst island solutions on the surrounding
communities on the future risks involved coastal environment.
with improper coastal structures and a
need to strengthen the regulatory 1.2 Undertake cost effectiveness and

framework required to facilitate better benefit-cost analysis of the

management. suitable designs

If measures to streamline proper design 1.3 Demonstrate and test the

and construction of access infrastructure effectiveness of the new design

aren't developed as an urgent priority, by constructing a model harbour

there is risk of considerable economic in a development focus island.

damage in the near future and a


1.4 Establish mechanisms to monitor
possibility that the vulnerable groups
the model harbour and
within the outer islands may have to bear
periodically report findings.
119 Adaptation Projects - Project 18

1.5 Establish mechanisms to transfer Objective 2: Improve regulatory


positive findings from the model framework to incorporate climate change
harbour into a National Access resilient standards for access
Infrastructure Design and infrastructure
Construction Standard (NAIDCS)
Activities
Short-term outputs
2.1 Establish mechanisms to transfer
4 Suitable access infrastructure
positive findings from the model
options for Maldivian coral island
harbour into a National Access
environment developed
Infrastructure Design and
4 Cost effectiveness and benefit-
Construction Standard (NAIDCS)
costs reports for most suitable
designs developed and the most 2.2 Develop the National Access
suitable design adopted Infrastructure Design and
4 A model harbour constructed Construction Standard and
incorporate into the regulatory
4 Monitoring mechanisms
framework minimum design and
established for the model
construction standards for
harbour
implementing access
4 Mechanisms to incorporate
infrastructure projects.
findings from new harbour into a
new National Access 2.3 Strengthen the enforcement of
Infrastructure Design and EIA regulation in all access
Construction Standard (NAIDCS) infrastructure projects.
established
2.4 Raise public awareness on the
Outcome new standards and the
importance of complying with
Cost effective climate change resilient
them during site selection
and environment friendly access
process.
infrastructure designs developed
and mechanisms to replicate Short-term outputs
new designs nationwide 4 National Access Infrastructure
established.
Design and Construction
Standard (NAIDCS) established.

4 Provisions for efficient and strict


enforcement of EIA regulations in
public access infrastructure
development projects
established.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 120

4 A number of public awareness Implementation


programmes conducted on the
NAIDCS Institutional arrangement

Outcome Lead agency

Regulatory framework for design and Ministry of Construction and Public


construction of access infrastructure Infrastructure.
enhanced.
Partner agencies
Objective 3: Develop the capacity of
Ministry of Atolls Development; Ministry
national organizations to properly design
of Housing and Urban Development;
and evaluate access infrastructure
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
projects
Water.

Activities
Project Steering Committee

3.1 Establish mechanisms to transfer


Policy-level officials and community
positive findings from the model
representatives
harbour into a National Access
Infrastructure Design and Project Management Team
Construction Standard (NAIDCS)
Officials from Ministry of Construction
3.2 Train selected staff from and Public Infrastructure.
regulatory authorities and
implementation agencies, in the Risks and barriers
field of coastal engineering.
4 Potential high costs of developing

Short-term outputs climate change resilient


structures today.
4 5 Staff trained in the field of
coastal engineering
4 Although harbours have been
developed in a large number of
4 Training programmes conducted
inhabited islands so far
for staff of regulatory authorities
improvements to these existing
and implementation agencies on
structures may require complete
NAIDCS
upgrades.

Outcome 4 Trained staff retention at the


specified field and location.
Local capacity in access infrastructure
4 Long-term studies required to
design and assessment developed.
assess potential effective designs
may be beyond the project
timeframe.
121 Adaptation Projects - Project 18

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

US$3,800,000
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 122

Project Investigating alternative livebait management,


catch, culture and holding techniques in the
19 Maldives to reduce vulnerability of the tuna
fishery sector to the predicted climate change
and variability.

Rationale declined. This particular species is an


obligate corralivore and the rapid demise
The ability of Maldives to manage its of the live corals had an impact on their
fisheries is crucial to sustain livelihoods survival. With such direct vulnerability of
and social and economic well being. The live bait availability to changes in coral
fishery catches almost 150,000t of tuna reef ecosystem evident, it is imperative
every year with fish exports valued at that alternative ways and means of
US$88 million. The fishing activity itself livebait is sought to adapt to climate
provides direct employment for about change. One obvious means is
16,000 people and thousands more in mariculture. Captive culturing of livebait
post-harvest activities. The fisheries species (Caesionids, Apogonids, Clupeids)
contribution to annual GDP is more than is new and needs to be investigated in
7 percent. the Maldives.

Live bait is a pre-requisite for the pole The possibility of catching livebait in the
and line fishery in the Maldives. Without open outer atoll water will be another
adequate and continuous supply of useful adaptation option. It will have the
livebait pole-and-line fishery will not additional benefit of relieving
exist. The bait is traditionally caught exploitation pressure on coral reef for
during daytime using a square lift net livebait. This will contribute to richer
deployed alongside the boat. The bait biological diversity and sustainable eco-
fishery has seen rapid changes in recent tourism development.
years and fishermen now use lights at
night for catching bait. Tuna fishing activities in the Maldives are
directly related to livelihoods and play a
Coral reefs are the habitats for livebait critical role in poverty alleviation in the
and they are highly vulnerable to islands. The human stresses on the coral
changes in SST and other climate reefs of the Maldives are acute due to
changes. This has significant implications rapid developments such as reclamation,
for the availability of bait as shown by harbour dredging, and sand mining. On
the 1998 coral bleaching event when the other hand a highly successful
abundance of long nose file fish tourism industry is promoting
(Oxymonocanthus longirostris) rapidly sustainable use of the reef resources and
123 Adaptation Projects - Project 19

advocating no take of corals, sharks, and techniques. The fishermen will be


aquarium fish. In the absence of this motivated to experiment by themselves
project, there is a real possibility that the for bait catching in oceanic waters.
amount of available bait fish will decline Fishery research and development is a
with deteriorating coral reef conditions, key priority policy in the seventh
causing significant time and effort to be National Development Plan (NDP) and
spent on bait fishing, over exploitation of research on bait fish is a priority strategy
certain bait species, social conflicts of the seventh NDP. In addition to the
between tourism and fisheries If national benefits the proposed project
successful, the activities proposed in this would generate several global benefits
project have potential to limit or cease and help fulfill important obligations of
the bait fishing activities on the reef the Maldives under international
thereby promoting sustainable use of the conventions and agreements relating to
coral reefs and making them more sustainable use of living marine
resilient to natural disturbances caused resources, and maintaining biodiversity.
by climate change.
Description
The fishery dependent communities and
tourism dependent communities stand to Goal
gain much from this project. The
proposed activities will be carried out Better bait fishery management and

with full participation of fishermen and exploration of alternative techniques of

their involvement will have added livebait catching, culture and storage to

benefit of education, better reduce the vulnerability of bait fish to

understanding and finally acceptance of predicted sea surface temperature

sustainable bait fishery methods. Their changes and consequent habitat changes.

expertise in selection of project


Objective 1: Enhance the knowledge on
demonstration areas and timing will on
bait use and utilization, alternative
the other hand be crucial to the success
livebait, catching methods and improved
of the project. The new knowledge
gained will be shared with key holding techniques.

stakeholders to develop new policies and


Activities
guidelines to manage bait fishing.

1.1 Undertake a comprehensive


The expected benefits in the immediate
review of bait biology, bait use
term would be better know how, policies,
and bait utilization in the
and regulation of bait fishery and
Maldives.
demonstration of alternative bait fishing
methods and bait fish breeding options. 1.2 Identify, catalogue and map
At times of poor bait fishery fishermen popular baitfishing grounds in
will have at their disposal new each atoll
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 124

1.3 Undertake scientific and different methods of attracting


technical evaluations for live bait
alternatives to bait and 4 Evaluation report on use of
alternative species mycophids as livebait

1.4 Study and evaluate the potential 4 Economic and financial feasibility

for mariculture of alternative of alternatives to bait and

species of bait. different methods of bait


catching established
1.5 Conduct bait fishing trails in
4 Priority ranking of bait fishery
various regions of the Maldives
solutions
in different periods to investigate
efficacy of attracting livebait Outcome
using different methods
Well informed decision making for
1.6 Conduct bait fishing trails using sustainable development & management
submersible lights in the open of bait fishery based on up-to-date
ocean to investigate the scientific knowledge
potential for use of mycophids as
livebiat Objective 2: Strengthen the policy,
regulatory and institutional framework
1.7 Evaluate the cost effectiveness of for bait fishery management
alternatives to bait and
alternative methods of bait Activities
catching
2.1 Develop manuals and guidelines
1.8 Identify and rank the practical for best practice on bait fishery
solutions to bait fishery in the
2.2 Develop the policies, rules and
Maldives
standards to regulate bait fishery
Short-term outputs in the Maldives

4 Targeted research study reports


2.3 Prepare a stakeholder and public
on bait biology, bait use and
participation plan for bait fishery
utilization
management
4 Bait resource use maps for each
atoll 2.4 Conduct education and outreach
programmes for fishermen on
4 Identification of alternatives to
rational utilization of livebiat
bait and alternative species

4 Practicality and applicability of 2.5 Develop a bait fishery research


mariculture for bait determined implementation strategy

4 Information made available on


125 Adaptation Projects - Project 19

2.6 Undertake training on research strategies leading to improved overall


methods to investigate bait health of reef ecosystem, biological
catching options diversity and species richness
strengthening the adaptation capacity of
2.7 Training on mariculture for the
communities dependent on fisheries and
existing research staff; establish
tourism for their livelihoods.
collaborative research
programme with appropriate Objective 3: Demonstrate innovative,
overseas institutions appropriate and cost-effective
mariculture for breeding alternative
2.8 Identify methods/techniques for
livebait species
measuring bait catch and
utilization
Activities

Short-term outputs 3.1 Undertake in-depth assessment


4 Best practice guide for bait of mariculture technology
fishery focusing on the specific needs of

4 New policy and regulatory the fishermen and the future

framework for bait fishery vulnerabilities of coral reef

developed ecosystems to climate change


and human induced stresses.
4 Definition of stakeholders and a
public participation plan 3.2 Develop criteria for the selection
4 Training workshops for fishermen of mariculture demonstration
on rational use of bait and species and sites
training material disseminated
3.3 Select species and sites for
4 An endorsed bait fishery research
mariculture demonstration based
strategy
on selection criteria, and
4 Research methods training
national priorities.
provided to research team

4 Training workshops, study tours, 3.4 Implement mariculture


demonstration projects in the
exchange programmes and
existing fisheries extension
exposure trips on mariculture
service centres
4 Tools and markers for measuring
bait catch and bait utilization Short-term outputs
determined
4 In-depth technology needs
assessment of mariculture for
Outcome
bait
Effective bait fishery management policy,
regulation and operational research
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 126

4 Selection criteria for bait Risks and barriers


mariculture demonstration sites
4 R& D investments are low in the
and species
Maldives.
4 Sites and species for mariculture
4 Few qualified scientists
selected

4 Results of demonstration projects Evaluation and monitoring


made available to stakeholders
The project will be monitored according
Outcome to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
Demonstrations of mariculture
progress reports, expenditure reports,
technologies that target particular
annual monitoring reports will be
concerns of the fishermen and removing
submitted to MPND. Donor requirements
the technical and financial barriers
on M&E will be fulfilled.
relating to the implementation of such
technologies.
Financial resources

Implementation Total project cost: US$ 1.027 million

Institutional arrangement

Lead agency

Marine Research Center

Partner agencies

Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and


Marine Resources; Ministry of
Environment, Energy and Water; Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade;

Project Steering Committee

Policy-level officials, community


representatives, private sector and NGOs

Project Management

Full time project staff will be recruited.


127 Adaptation Projects - Project 20

Project Improve the health status of the population,

20 particularly children, by the prevention and


management of vector-borne diseases caused by
changes in temperature and flooding due to
extreme rainfall.

Rationale outbreak of dengue occurred in 1979,


the second in 1983 and the third 1988
Vector borne diseases such as dengue which was the worst with 2054 cases of
and scrub typhus are climate related and dengue fever and nine deaths in children
are major communicable diseases of under 10 years. After that for 10 years
public health concern in the Maldives. there were no outbreaks until the next
Disease trends show that dengue is now occurred in 1998 with a total of 1750
endemic in the country with seasonal cases and no reported death. The
outbreaks. Epidemiological data shows incidence of vector-borne disease will
continued high prevalence from mid also increase with increase frequency of
2005, spreading to the atolls, leading to flooding. At present 18% of inhabited
epidemic proportions. Scrub typhus islands experience rainfall and/or ocean-
which was endemic in the country in the induced flooding at least once a year.
early years of the 20th century
reemerged in 2002 resulting in mortality Human stresses on environment such as

rates as high as 10%. Although mortality poor solid waste disposal, increasing

rate has declined to 1% with appropriate number of construction work sites and

case management, scrub typhus continue poor sewage and wastewater disposal

to be prevalent causing significant increases vector breeding sites. In the

morbidity. In December 2006 the absence of this project, it is likely that

country had its first outbreak of incidence of vector-borne diseases would

Chikungunya, another climate related increase leading to reduced quality of life

vector-borne disease. in the vulnerable population. With


vector-borne diseases at epidemic
There is high likelihood that the proportions children and the more
predicted climate change, particularly vulnerable groups face increased risk of
changes in temperature and rainfall mortality. Control of vector-borne
regimes, will cause higher incidence of diseases is a priority of the government
vector-borne diseases. Evidence shows as outlined in the 7NDP.
that dengue outbreaks are becoming
more frequent and there is an
association with ENSO events. The first
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 128

Description 4 Inter-agency co-ordination


mechanism.
Goal 4 Public awareness materials for TV,
radio, media and materials for
Protect human health from climate
distribution.
change-related vector-borne diseases.
4 Costs to society quantified and
Objective 1: Undertake integrated vector policy-makers sensitised.
management (IVM) to prevent climate 4 Training materials on IVM.
change related vector-borne diseases.
4 Trained healthcare services staff
at island, atoll, regional and
Activities
national level.
1.1 Conduct inter-sectoral
consultations and agree on roles Outcome

and responsibilities of
Climate change-related vectors
government agencies and
proactively controlled through Integrated
island/atoll councils in IVM.
Vector Management (IVM).

1.2 Educate public on elimination of


Objective 2: Develop the capacity for
vector breeding grounds and
early diagnosis and establish effective
other vector control measures.
disease and vector surveillance system
1.3 Assess the economic implications for planning and response.
of current and emerging climate-
related vector-borne diseases
Activities

and cost to society.


2.1 Develop and orient service

1.4 Strengthen capacity of island, providers on case definitions,

atoll, regional and national detection, reporting and

healthcare services on their standard operating procedures

respective roles in oversight, on vector-borne diseases.

management, implementation
2.2 Improve tracking and reporting
and/or monitoring of the IVM
of vector-borne diseases cases to
program.
facilitate timely response to
outbreaks and mitigate their
Short-term outputs
impact.
4 A stakeholder participation plan
for IVM. 2.3 Strengthen laboratory capacity
4 IVM included in the mandate of for early diagnosis.
island/atoll councils
129 Adaptation Projects - Project 20

2.4 Train atoll level health care Implementation


worker/community on vector
surveillance. Institutional arrangement:

2.5 Strengthen monitoring and Lead agency


evaluation and, operational
Ministry of Health
research capacity to assess
effectiveness of innovative
Partner agencies
strategies and interventions.
Department of Public Health; Ministry of
Short-term outputs
Environment, Energy and Water; Ministry
4 Manual on case definitions, of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine
detection and reporting Resources; Ministry of Housing and
procedures and, standard Urban Development; Ministry of Atolls
operating procedures. Development; Male' Municipality; Atoll
4 Orientiation training programme Offices; Island Offices
for service providers.
Project Steering Committee
4 An automated database on
vector-borne diseases accessible Policy-level officials, community
to healthcare planners and representatives, private sector and NGOs
service providers.
Project Management
4 Laboratory test kits and diagnosis
procedures.
Full-time project staff will be recruited.
4 Training manual and training
programmes on vector Risks and barriers
surveillance.
4 Lack of human resources,
4 Monitoring and evaluation information and financial
procedures. resources.
4 Report on successes and failures
and lessons learned on vector
disease control.

Outcome

Early diagnosis and complete case


management improved and capacity for
timely and appropriate response to
outbreaks established.
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 130

Evaluation and monitoring

The project will be monitored according


to the national M&E standards set by
President's Office and MPND. Quarterly
progress reports, expenditure reports,
annual monitoring reports will be
submitted to MPND. In addition, any
donor finance agency requirements on
M&E will be fulfilled.

Financial resources

Total project cost: US$350,000


131 References

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Annex
137 Annex 1 - Maldives NAPA processes and key steps

Annex 1
Maldives NAPA Process and
Key Steps

NAPA process was guided by the and Measures, and Project Proposals. The
principles of transparency, broad country-driven NAPA of 2006 is the
stakeholder engagement, partnership successive climate change adaptation
building among focal agencies, strategy that precedes the Second
community participation and ownership National Communication. Hence the
by the people of Maldives especially the NAPA goes beyond the policies and
atoll population, multi-disciplinary measures in the FNC and the project
analysis and synergy with national profiles included needs speedy
development policies. implementation.

The procedures in the UNFCCC The NAPA project in the Maldives was
Annotated Guidelines for the Preparation implemented as part of the Integrated
of National Adaptation Programmes of Climate Change Strategy (ICCS) that
Action was adapted and streamlined to included the Technology Needs
suit the Maldives. The Maldives has Assessment for mitigation and
already undertaken several studies on adaptation and, the National Capacity
the vulnerability of the nation and the Self-Assessment.
special adaptation needs of the country.
The ICCS is also consistent with the policy
The Maldives submitted its FNC in 2001
directive in the Sixth National
that included National GHG Inventory,
Development Plan to pursue a
Mitigation Plan for GHG Emissions,
programmatic as opposed to project-
Vulnerability to Climate Change,
based approach when implementing the
Adaptation to Climate Change, Policies
Government's policies and to create
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 138

meaningful and sustainable partnerships 4 Ministry of Transport and


between the public and private sectors Communication
and civil society, in order to achieve the 4 Ministry of Economic
goals of national development. Development and Trade

4 Ministry of Housing and Urban


Participatory process
Development

Stakeholder engagement 4 Ministry of Atolls Development

4 Ministry of Planning and National


A multi-disciplinary team was established
Development
to formulate the NAPA. The CCTT was
4 Energy Section - Ministry of
responsible for formulating the NAPA
Environment, Energy and Water
and, in the future, will be responsible for
coordinating the implementation of 4 Water Section - Ministry of

activities under the NAPA framework. The Environment, Energy and Water

CCTT was appointed through an open 4 Department of Meteorology


and flexible process that was inclusive 4 Environment Research Centre
and transparent. At the inception
4 Educational Development Centre
meeting of the project key stakeholders
had the opportunity to review
4 Ministry of Health

membership of the CCTT and propose 4 Maldives Fishermen's Association


additional members. 4 Land and Marine Environmental
Resources Group Pvt. Ltd.
The CCTT comprises of representatives of
Ministry of Environment, Energy and 4 Seamarc

Water the lead agency, and other key 4 Banyan Tree Resort Maldives
players including stakeholders such as
members of relevant government Partnership building

ministries and private sector. The


Experience has shown that it takes
stakeholders represented in the CCTT are:
considerable time to enhance national
4 Ministry of Tourism and Civil and local capacity to implement
Aviation adaptation measures. As such capacity
4 Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture enhancement activities were undertaken
and Marine Resources as part of the NAPA formulation process.

4 Marine Research Centre The aim of capacity enhancement was to


ensure that key partners play an
4 Ministry of Construction and
appropriate, meaningful and productive
Public Infrastructure
role in the development and ultimate
4 Maldives Transport and
implementation of the NAPA. In capacity
Contracting Company
building the focus was on addressing the
139 Annex 1 - Maldives NAPA processes and key steps

urgent need for (i) personnel who have 4 Male' Municipality


the technical understanding of 4 Ministry of Environment, Energy
vulnerability to climate change and of and Water
possible adaptive responses, who are
4 Maldives College of Higher
competent in applying methodologies for
Education
vulnerability and adaptation (V&A)
assessments, who can translate their
4 Commerce, Development and
Environment Pvt Ltd
technical knowledge and skills into
recommendations for policy and 4 Haa Dhaalu Atoll Office
decision-makers and who can assist in 4 Gaafu Alifu Atoll Office
providing longterm and continuous
4 Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Office
assistance towards implementing project
4 Seenu Atoll Office
level adaptation activities; (ii) enhanced
awareness for both political and
Awareness raising
community levels in relation to the
current vulnerability of the Maldives to In addition to the training activities
climate and sea level variability, to the undertaken to build technical knowledge
potential increase in climate hazards and and skills of relevant individuals in the
associated risks as a result of climate government and private sector climate
change, and to the opportunities to change targeted public awareness raising
reduce the vulnerabilities and risks was also undertaken. Awareness raising
through adaptation. materials were prepared in both Dhivehi
and English language taking into account
The following ministries and agencies
the capacities, needs and concerns of the
benefitted from the partnership building
stakeholders. Dedicated radio and TV
activities.
programmes were funded by the NAPA
4 Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture project.
and Marine Resources
Awareness raising sessions were held for
4 Ministry of Planning and National
the students of Muhibbuddin School -
Development
Hithadhoo (Seenu Atoll), Seenu Atholhu
4 Marine Research Centre
Madharusa -Hulhumeedhoo (Seenu
4 Department of Public Health Atoll), Gnaviyani Atoll Education Centre -
4 Ministry of Transport and Fuammulah, Majeediya School - Male',
Communications English Preparatory and Secondary

4 Maldives Water and Sanitation School - Male' and Ghiyasuddeen School

Authority - Male'.

4 State Electric Company A special public lecture was organised


4 Maldives Transport and with national NGO, Volunteers for
Contracting Company Environment, Social Harmony and
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 140

Improvement (VESHI) to provide including the private sector participated


information on the latest science of in the consultation. A follow-up
climate change. The internationally consultation session was held on 01st
recognized scientist Prof. John Hay October 2006.
provided the public lecture.
Multi-disciplinary approach
Community awareness raising sessions
were held for multi-sector In formulating the NAPA a multi-
representatives from Haa Alifu, Haa disciplinary approach was adopted. The
Dhaalu, Shaviyani, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu NAPA framework was built upon key
Dhaalu, Gnaviyani and Seenu Atoll. theories of sustainability, risks, capital
Awareness raising sessions were held in deepening and institutions from ecology,
Kulhudhuffushi (Haa Dhaalu Atoll), sociology, economics and political
Hithadhoo (Seenu Atoll) and Fuammulah science literature.
(Gnaviyani Atoll).
Given the multi-disciplinary approach
Stakeholder consultations adopted for NAPA it was necessary to
bring expertise from a variety of sectors,
Three stakeholder consultations were
civil society and government. A working
organised one at national level and two
group was established to ensure that the
at regional level. The consultations were
NAPA was comprehensive and covers the
organised to seek the views of key
social, economic and environmental
opinion leaders and representatives from
aspects of sustainable development. The
key sectors on critical vulnerabilities to
NAPA Working Group also facilitated high
climate change and priority adaptation
standard for the project profiles and
measures. The first regional consultation
allowed CCTT to work closely with policy-
was held in the North region at
makers in relevant sectors and with
Kulhudhuffushi (Haa Dhaalu Atoll) from
officials from the Ministry of Planning
11th to 12th September 2006.
and National Development and Ministry
Altogether 28 participants from Haa Alif,
of Finance and Treasury. The NAPA
Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani Atoll attended
Working Group consultative process
the consultation. The second regional
helped increase the knowledge base of
consultation was held in South region at
the CCTT and assisted them to carry out
Hithadhoo (Seenu Atoll) from 16th to
NAPA formulation. The NAPA Working
17th September 2006. Altogether 37
Group consisted of senior executives
participants from Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu
from key partner agencies and private
Dhaalu, Gnaviyani and Seenu atoll
sector. The following are the members of
attended. The national consultation was
the NAPA Working Group:
held in Male' (Bandos Island Resort) from
13th to 14th September 2006. A total of
30 participants from 20 agencies
141 Annex 1 - Maldives NAPA processes and key steps

4 Dr. Mohamed Shiham Adam 4 Mr. Hussain Naeem Senior


Executive Director, Marine Environment Analyst, Ministry of
Research Centre Environment, Energy and Water

4 Dr. Abdulla Naseer - Executive 4 Ms. Lubna Moosa - National


Director, Ministry of Fisheries, Project Manager, Integrated
Agriculture and Marine Resources Climate Change Strategy Projects,

4 Dr. Sheena Moosa Director, Ministry of Environment, Energy

Health Science, Ministry of and Water

Health 4 Ms. Hafeeza Abdulla - NAPA

4 Dr. Simad Saeed - Project National Consultant

Manager, Atoll Ecosystem-based


A hazard-vulnerability-impact matrix was
Conservation project, Baa Atoll
developed from a multi-disciplinary
4 Mr. Amjad Abdhulla Director, perspective to gauge the critical
Ministry of Environment, Energy vulnerabilities and impacts on the
and Water Maldives. Based on the results of the
4 Mr. Ahmed Jameel Director, interactive cause and effect matrix
Ministry of Environment, Energy detailed V&A assessments were
and Water conducted for fisheries, coral reef

4 Ms. Mariyam Saleem - Senior biodiversity, human health, land, beach

Research Officer, Marine and human settlements, and critical

Research Centre infrastructure.

4 Mr. Ibrahim Shaheen Director, A series of climate policy research papers


Maldives Transport and were prepared for discussion and
Contracting Company advocacy. These papers were
4 Ms. Fathmath Shafeega - disseminated widely for feedback,
Assistant Director, Ministry of presented at a national consultation and
Planning and National made available for public review on the
Development website of the Ministry of Environment,

4 Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed - Energy and Water. These papers will be

Senior Medical Officer, published in the future as official policy

Department of Public Health research reports.

4 Mr. Ahmed Shaig PhD Candidate,


Method
James Cook University, Australia

4 Mohamed Aslam - Director, In the NAPA six steps were followed in


Surveying, Land and Marine sequence each feeding its output as input
Environmental Resources Group to the next step.
Pvt. Ltd
1. Development of criteria for
prioritization
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 142

2. Identification of priority vulnerable (beach, vegetation, water, coral


sectors reefs and related ecosystems) is

3. Detailed V&A for priority sectors reduced.

4. Identification of adaptation 2. Degree to which adverse effects of

activities climate change to produced


capital (public infrastructure,
5. Prioritization of adaptation
utilities such as power, water
activities
supply and telecommunications)

6. Development of project proposals is reduced.

3. Degree to which adverse effects of


1. Development of criteria for climate change to human capital
prioritization (loss of life, human health) is
reduced.
The criteria for prioritization were
developed by the NAPA Working Group. Objective 2: Reduce poverty and promote
The criteria and the process for equality to enhance adaptive capacity.
prioritization were pilot-tested in
4. Degree to which disparity between
Gn.Fuammulah in June 2006. Based on
Male' and the atolls is reduced.
the pilot-testing the method was refined
5. Degree to which empowerment of
and improved.
women is achieved.

Two broad objectives were used to 6. Degree to which food security is


prioritize the development sectors that increased.
are vulnerable to climate change. These
Objective 3: Achieve synergy with
objectives are:
national development goals and MEAs.
1. Relevance to national
development 7. Degree to which the economy can
be strengthened and diversified.
2. Degree of climate impact
8. Degree to which employment
Four broad objectives were selected as opportunities can be increased
the basis for prioritization of adaptation particularly for youth and
activities and criteria were developed to women.
assess adaptation activities against each 9. Degree to which the natural
objective. The objectives and the environment will be protected.
respective criteria are:
10. Degree to which people and
property can be made safer from
Objective 1: Reduce the degree of adverse
damage caused by natural
effects of climate change.
disasters.
1. Degree to which adverse effects of
climate change to natural capital
143 Annex 1 - Maldives NAPA processes and key steps

Objective 4: Cost-effectiveness. impact matrix are:

11. Degree to which adaptation 1. Land, beach and human


measure is socially accepted. settlement

12. Degree to which the adaptation 2. Critical infrastructure;


measure is financial feasible. 3. Tourism;
13. Degree to which the measure is 4. Fisheries;
technically feasible.
5. Human health;

2. Identification of priority vulnerable 6. Water resources;

sectors 7. Agriculture and food security and,

8. Coral reef biodiversity.


In order to list the sectors that are
vulnerable to predicted climate change a Detailed V&A assessments were carried
review of (1) the latest global climate out by national consultants for coral reef
scenarios predicted by the IPCC, (2) local biodiversity, fisheries, human health,
climate trends estimated in the Climate land, beach and human settlement and
Risk Profile for the Maldives, (3) FNC, (4) critical infrastructure. It was not possible
IPCC Third Assessment Report; and (5) to undertake detailed V&A assessments
other relevant international studies on for tourism, water resources and,
the impact of climate change on small agriculture and food security due to lack
island states was undertaken. of local capacity and time constraints.

Based on the literature review a 4. Identification of adaptation activities


summary matrix of the global and local
trends in climate change, key In order to identify adaptation activities

vulnerabilities of the Maldives to the three stakeholder consultations were

predicted climate change hazards and held. The stakeholders were informed

the impacts on the different about climate hazards, specific

development sectors was drawn up. The vulnerabilities of the islands' ecosystem,

matrix was used as a guide to produce economy and people to the identified

the list of vulnerable sectors that needed hazards and about the impacts of climate

further assessment. change. These stakeholders were also


informed about the adaptation measures
A national workshop was held to recommended in the V&A assessments.
prioritise sectors. Following the provision of background
information the stakeholders were asked
3. Detailed V&A assessment for priority
to identify
sectors
4 what are the key

The priority sectors based on the vulnerabilities/impacts to climate

objectives and the hazard-vulnerability- change?


National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 144

4 what are the existing measures circulated for feedback and input from
that reduce the vulnerability of respective government agencies who will
systems and groups to climate have primary responsibility for their
change? implementation. The profiles were also

4 what are the existing circulated widely for comments and

development policies and presented to the CCTT and a national

measures that increase the workshop for endorsement.

vulnerability of systems and


groups to climate change? Country-drivenness

4 what are the new adaptation


The NAPA of the Maldives was developed
policies and measures required to through a country-driven process. As an
address critical vulnerabilities and important element of the NAPA the
impacts? Maldives Adaptation Policy Framework
was developed. This Framework captures
The answers to these questions were
from a national perspective the
used to identify adaptation activities.
important interactions that would lead to
Group discussions were held to agree on
adaptation to climate change in the
the key adaptation activities.
Maldives.
5. Prioritization of adaptation activities
The key sectors assessed in the NAPA

Once the adaptation activities were reflect specific geographic and economic

identified by the regional and national characteristics of the country. Maldives is

level consultative process, analytical a coral reef based small island

hierarchy process was used to prioritize developing state made up of 1190 small

adaptation activities. The multi-criteria tropical islands. As such fisheries,

decision tool pair-wise ranking was used tourism, coral reef and beaches play a

by the stakeholders to first give weights critical role in the economic agenda of

to the criteria for prioritization. Next the the country.

stakeholders were asked to provide a


The Maldives is divided into 20
score from 0-10 for each activity against
administrative regions called atolls. Since
each criterion. The scores were then
there are no significant variations in
summed based on the weight for the
environmental features across the atolls
criteria.
the impact of climate change on all the

6. Development of project proposals atolls is likely to be similar. Specific


islands may be more vulnerable to
The project profiles for priority different hazards than others but a
adaptation activities were initially regional analysis was not warranted.
developed by the members of the NAPA
Working Group. The profiles were
145 Annex 1 - Maldives NAPA processes and key steps

the public consultations held a very high policies and measures are integrated into
level of enthusiasm was shown by the 7NDP. Most of the NAPA policies and
community leaders which augers well for measures are cross-cutting in nature and
the implementation of the NAPA. In the contribute to several important
aftermath of the tsunami there is a very development sectors. The NAPA policies
high level of realisation of the also contribute to the protection of
vulnerability of the country and the need important environmental resources such
for risk reduction. as water, soils, land and biological
diversity.
The criteria for prioritization of
adaptation activities were determined The adaptation measures in the NAPA are
based on national development directly relevant to the guiding principles,
priorities. A tailor-made analytical goals and strategies of the 7NDP. The
framework based on how the adaptation 7NDP identifies the vulnerable low lying
measures affect the level and quality of islands and fragile reef environment as a
capital assets natural, human and key challenge to sustainable
produced capital was used to evaluate development in the Maldives and
adaptation activities. endorses the NAPA as a means to address
the challenge posed by global warming
Contribution to overall sustainable and sea level rise. The policies and

development goals measures in the NAPA are integrated into


the national development policies on
The Maldives NAPA will contribute to macroeconomic and financial
national sustainable development goals. management, tourism, fisheries,
The national Vision 2020 envisions that agriculture, construction, transport, land
protective measures will be taken to development, environmental
combat global environmental threats and management, natural disaster
environment friendly lifestyles will be preparedness and mitigation, water
adopted in the Maldives. NAPA is resources management, healthcare and
dedicated to adapt to the threats posed housing. In order to integrate the policies
by global climate change. into the 7NDP the NAPA Team worked
closely with the officials of Ministry of
The seventh millennium development
Planning and National Development,
goal is to ensure environmental
Ministry of Finance and Treasury,
sustainability. Target nine of MDGs is to
Ministry of Health, Ministry of FIsheries ,
integrate the principles of sustainable
Agriculture and Marine Resources and
development into country policies and
Ministry of Environment, Energy and
programmes and reverse the loss of
Water.
environmental resources. NAPA identifies
policies and measures required to adapt
to global climate change and these
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 146

Government endorsement and sector representatives on the priority


vulnerabilities and adaptation measures.
commitment
The NAPA Working Group contributed to

NAPA is endorsed at the highest level of the operational management of the

government and in his foreword to the NAPA process and provided continuing

NAPA the President called for all feedback to improve the NAPA.

government agencies to extend their full


The draft methods, reports and working
cooperation to implement the NAPA.
papers were circulated for comments and

In addition to the inclusion of NAPA in feedback. The draft text of the NAPA was

the 7NDP the Third National distributed to all the members of the

Environment Action Plan contains a CCTT and key agencies of the

dedicated chapter for addressing global government for comments and feedback.

climate change based on The NAPA was endorsed by the

recommendations of the NAPA. The government at a national workshop held

Ministry of Environment, Energy and on [date].

Water has developed an implementation


strategy to ensure the successful
implementation of NAPA. The National
Commission for the Protection of
Environment (NCPE) will oversee the
implementation of NAPA and a special
interagency task force is envisaged to
ensure the respective agencies of the
government mobilise international
financial assistance and allocate public
financing to the priority project profiles
in the NAPA.

Transparency

The NAPA was formulated through a


transparent and open process. New ideas
and differing opinions were encouraged
from the beginning and consultative
process was adhered to. The CCTT were
informed about all the decisions taken
and methods adopted. National and
regional level consultations were held to
seek the views of community and key
147 Annex 2 - List of participants in the national and regional workshops

Annex 2
List of participants in the
national and regional
workshops

NAPA Nation Workshop on Identifying and Prioritisation of


Adaptation Measures

1 Hawwa Nizma (Department of Public Health)


2 Dr.Sheena Moosa (Ministry of Health)
3 Shazly Shafeeq (Ministry of Economic Development & Trade)
4 Thomas le Berre (Seamarc Pvt.Ltd)
5 Marie Saleem (Marine Research Centre)
6 Ahmed Adham (Ministry of Transport & Communication)
7 Man B. Thapa (UNDP)
8 Gulfishan Safeeq (Education Development Centre)
9 Aishath Niyaz (Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd)
10 Mohamed Ali Janah (Maldives Association for Construction Industry)
11 Mohamed Latheef (Ministry of Transport & Communication)
12 Mohamed Azim (Ministry of Housing & Urban Development)
13 Azim Musthag (Maldivers Diving Center)
14 Aminath Haifa Naeem (Ministry of Planning and National Development)
15 Abdul Azeez Abdul
Hakeem (Banyan Tree Maldives)
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 148

16 Ahmed Zuhoor Mohamed


Hussein (State Trading Organization)
17 Zahid (Department of Meteorology)
18 Aishath Shahida (Maldives Food and drug Authority)
19 Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed
Mohamed (Department of Public Health)
20 Mohamed Fayaz (Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure)
21 Ismail Raheed (Ministry of Construction and Public Infrastructure)
22 Ahmed Musid (Waste Management Section)
23 Azzam Ibrahim (State Electric Company)
24 Mohamed Fizan Ahmed (Waste Management Section)
25 Dr. Mohamed Shareef (Ministry of Planning and National Development)
27 Abdul Azeez Jamal
Aboobakuru (Ministry of atolls Development)
26 Aiminath Haifa (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water)
28 Ahmed Jameel (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water)
29 Aishath Aileen Niyaz (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water)
30 Dr.Simad Saeed (Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water)

NAPA North Regional Workshop on Identifying and Prioritisation of


Adaptation Measures

1 Ahmed Naseem Kelaa-Haa Alifu


2 Najma Najeeb Kelaa-Haa Alifu
3 Mohamed Hassan Maarandhoo-Haa Alifu
4 Adam Naseer Dhidhdhoo-Haa Alifu
5 Ibrahim Khaleel Ihavandhoo-Haa Alifu
6 Abdulla Saeed Hoarafushi-Haa Alifu
7 Fathimath Zahira Hoarafushi-Haa Alifu
8 Mohamed Zahir Baarah-Haa Alifu
9 Sifla Shakir Utheemu-Haa Alifu
10 Afra Ibrahim Muraidhoo-Haa Alifu
11 Mohamed Zahir Baarah-Haa Alifu
12 Abdul Razzaq Hanimaadhoo-Haa Dhaalu
13 Idhrees Abdulla Hanimaadhoo-Haa Dhaalu
14 Abdul Rahman Ismail Kulhudhuffushi-Haa Dhaalu
15 Khadeeja Ali Kulhudhuffushi-Haa Dhaalu
16 Ibrahim Hassan Kulhudhuffushi-Haa Dhaalu
17 Musthafa Hussein Nolhivaran-Haa Dhaalu
18 Ali Mahir Nolhivaran-Haa Dhaalu
149 Annex 2 - List of participants in the national and regional workshops

19 Shareefa Ahmed Kulhudhuffushi-Haa Dhaalu


20 Mohamed Zahir Vaikaradhioo-Haa Dhaalu
21 Adam Mohamed Vaikaradhioo-Haa Dhaalu
22 Hassan Shiham Neykurendhoo-Haa Dhaalu
23 Mohamed Arif Kanditheemu-Shaviyani
24 Ahmed Shareef Goidhoo-Shaviyani
25 Hathim Moosa Feydhoo-Shaviyani
26 Mohamed Abdul Rahman Maroshi-Shaviyani
27 Ismail Ibrahim Komandoo-Shaviyani

NAPA South Regional Workshop on Identifying and Prioritisation of


Adaptation Measures

1 Mohamed Zaeem Villingili-Gaafu Alifu


2 Musthafa Mohamed Villingili-Gaafu Alifu
3 Ali Zubeir Villingili-Gaafu Alifu
4 Masood Ahmed Villingili-Gaafu Alifu
5 Ahmed Zareer Gemanafushi-Gaafu Alifu
6 Nasrulla Gemanafushi-Gaafu Alifu
7 Mohamed Didi Kandu Hulhudhoo-Gaafu Alifu
9 Thagiyyu Ibrahim Kolamaafushi-Gaafu Alifu
10 Amjad Musthafa Maamendhoo-Gaafu Alifu
11 Athir Ibrahim Thinadhoo-Gaafu Dhaalu
13 Mohamed Nasih Rasheed Thinadhoo-Gaafu Dhaalu
15 Mohamed Manik Hoadedhdhoo-Gaafu Dhaalu
16 Layagath Ali Fares-Gaafu Dhaalu
17 Ibrahim Riyaz Gadhdhoo-Gaafu Dhaalu
18 Mohamed Shaheedh Gadhdhoo-Gaafu Dhaalu
19 Mohamed Igbal Fiyoree-Gaafu Dhaalu
20 Ashraf Rasheed Maathodaa-Gaafu Dhaalu
21 Ahmed Waheed Mohamed Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
23 Ali Nafiz Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
25 Ibrahim Abdulla Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
26 Thoriq Ahmed Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
27 Mohamed Ahmed Didi Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
28 Mohamed Musthafa AhmedFuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
29 Eenaas Ali Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
30 Khadeeja Ahmed Fuvahmulah-Gnaviyani
31 Shabana Waheed
32 Ibrahim Shiyam
National Adaptation Programme of Action - Maldives 150

33 Ahmed Haneef
34 Mohamed Zahid
35 Ibrahim Rasheed Hithadhoo-Seenu
36 Mohamed Rasheed Moosa
37 Aishath Zuhaira Hithadhoo-Seenu
38 Fathmath Shifaza Hulhudhoo-Seenu
39 Mohamed Shimaz
40 Saudulla Hameed Hithadhoo-Seenu
41 Aminath Mohamed Hithadhoo-Seenu
Ministry of Environment Energy and Water

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