President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has launched the largest tree planting programme ever conducted in the Maldives, pledging to plant five million trees.
The programme was officially inaugurated on June 5 at a special ceremony. President Dr. Muizzu planted a Kaabolhi Arolhi tree in the inauguration, a rare species in the Maldives that grows to 35 meters and is used in local medicine.
Both President Dr. Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed participated in the tree planting ceremony, along with Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and his spouse Aishath Afreen Mohamed, Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, and Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Energy Ibrahim Ibrahim.
The president announced the five-year tree planting initiative during the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), the largest environmental forum. The programme's launch coincided with World Environment Day and took place at Lonuziyaaraiy Park in Male' City, with similar launches occurring across the atolls.
A key focus of the programme is the revival of endangered species, with 90 species listed as endangered in the Maldives. To inaugurate the initiative, 22 species of trees were planted in the park, including endangered trees, fruit trees, garden trees, shade trees, and medicinal plants. The event also featured information on significant trees included in the programme and a video highlighting their importance.
The government urges all citizens to participate in the tree planting effort. In addition, neighboring countries have pledged to donate trees to support the Maldives' ambitious five million tree planting programme.