The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Scout Association of Maldives to actively engage the nation's youth in the government’s ambitious national drive to plant five million trees across the archipelago.
Under this new partnership, Maldivian Scouts will have the opportunity to earn a newly established "Tree Guardian Badge." Rather than being a one-time activity, the badge programme is designed to foster a deep, long-term commitment to environmental stewardship through five progressive steps—planting a tree, learning about its species, studying the surrounding ecosystem, nurturing its growth, and fully fulfilling an environmental pledge.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Ali Shareef, expressed his profound gratitude to the Scout Association for stepping up to support President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's greening initiative. Minister Ali Shareef emphasised that the project goes beyond mere numbers, aiming to restore and revitalise the natural beauty of the Maldives.
"How can we move forward together with the Ministry on this matter, and what can the Scouts do to contribute? A very good programme was arranged through discussions with us so that this could be carried out in the form of a badge," he said.
Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association, Ismail Rifau, heralded the agreement as a historic milestone for environmental advocacy within Maldivian Scouting. He noted that the "Tree Guardian Badge" is built on the values of continuous duty and care.
"Planting a tree is something that can be finished in a single day. However, keeping the tree alive, growing it, and taking responsibility for it is a major long-term trust. This directly connects to the core principles of Scouting—service, responsibility, and making a difference through actions with integrity,” he explained.
To ensure maximum participation, the badge requirements have been carefully structured into age-appropriate categories:
Ages 5 to 11: Participants will plant a tree, monitor its initial growth, and foster a foundational love for the environment.
Ages 11 to 12: Participants will conduct basic research on their chosen tree and take active care of it for at least one month.
Ages 12 to 18: Scouts will work in teams to plant native Maldivian trees, managing and nurturing their growth over a period of two to three months.
Ages 18 to 26: Senior scouts will plan and lead reforestation projects, mentor younger age brackets, and monitor ecological results over a period of three to six months.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Ministry will provide the necessary land plots and tree saplings for the scouts. This joint initiative is expected to serve as a vital foundation for instilling personal responsibility, leadership, and proactive environmental awareness in the next generation of Maldivian citizens, marking a significant step forward in the nation's climate resilience efforts.