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As scuba divers we are often sticking our noses into environments filled with natural wonders and we often come close to rare or important species. Some of the dive sites we visit are recognized for their special characteristics and protected under national and international regulations while others are not. The Maldives island nation is a region that has already registered parts of its atolls under such international guidelines and now this protection may extend to the entire country.
The wheels have been set in motion on a path towards an unprecedented event – application by a whole nation for designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Maldives recently made a pledge to gradually get each of their atolls on board a “Biosphere Approach” to realize the international reserve status as well as lead the way in achieving sustainability targets laid out in recent world conferences. This could potentially change diving in the Maldives.
What is a Biosphere Reserve?
Worldwide recognition as a biosphere reserve is more than just designating an area for conservation or protection. The programme is described as a network which integrates research and knowledge among the members. Characterized as “learning sites”, the program strives to cultivate places where localized efforts and traditions are combined with science to create sustainable areas, both from a human and an environmental perspective. Ideally, the organization uses the area for further research about environmental conditions while the country benefits from increased attention and efforts to sustain their resources. Click here for more about the Maldives.
