The Maldives National University (MNU) has graduated its inaugural class of rangers trained to oversee the nation’s protected ecological zones, marking a significant development in the country’s environmental conservation efforts. The initiative is a key component of the government’s ‘Endheri Project’, designed to enhance capacity for the stewardship of sensitive natural areas.
The training programme, developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the MNU, saw seventeen individuals successfully complete its inaugural course. Formally launched under an agreement signed in January, the initiative was conceived to provide participants with the technical and legal competencies required to manage protected sites throughout the country.
Graduation ceremonies were held at MNU’s campus in Gan, Laamu Atoll, where the programme was initially piloted. Among the newly certified rangers were ten scholarship recipients from the atoll and seven individuals already engaged in conservation work across the country.
Coursework covered a broad spectrum of subjects, including environmental science, environmental law and enforcement, public engagement strategies, basic computing, and navigation. By integrating both academic and practical components, the curriculum sought to prepare rangers for field deployment and community-based conservation.
While the Maldives maintains numerous protected areas, officials from the Environment Ministry noted that ranger numbers remain limited. Minister of Environment Thoriq Ibrahim has described their responsibilities as vital to national environmental policy, characterising their work as both demanding and indispensable.
He stated that the government plans to broaden the training initiative in the months ahead. The goal, he said, is to increase the ranger workforce to strengthen the long-term management of the country’s natural heritage.