Fuvahmulah's battle against coastal erosion

The small island nation of the Maldives, known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and azure blue waters has always faced the threat of climate change. Over the years, the negative impact of climate change has been getting worse, as the relentless forces of climate change have been inching closer to its shores, with rising sea levels and coastal erosion posing an ever-increasing threat putting the resilience of this island nation to the test.

While many might have the idea of coastal erosion only affecting the smaller islands of the Maldives, Fuvahmulah, one of the biggest islands now renowned as a city has been facing the threat of coastal erosion over the years as well. This unique single-island formation is known for its unique beauty and shark sightings garnering popularity among travellers in recent years, however, while its popularity increases on the forefront the island’s deep-rooted coastal erosion issues might finally be turning into a major issue as the MVR 300 million project which aims at protecting the eroding Fuvahmulah coastal area has come to a halt.

This project which is spearheaded by Hoagard Investment Pvt Ltd, hinges on the extraction of 50,000 cubic meters of sand from Faresmaathoda, which provides a lifeline for the islands’ defences.

Among the Maldivian atolls, Fuvahmulah, with its unique single-island formation, has garnered attention as one of the areas hardest hit by coastal erosion. To safeguard this vulnerable island from the encroaching waves, a crucial project, valued at MVR 300 million, was initiated, aimed at protecting the eroding Fuvahmulah area. Spearheaded by Howard, the project hinges on the extraction of 50,000 cubic meters of sand, a lifeline for fortifying the island's defences.

However, the grand ambitions to protect Fuvahmulah have been abruptly halted, casting a shadow over the island's prospects for respite from coastal erosion. The reason behind this interruption lies in the suspension of sand extraction from the Faresmathoda area, a development that has triggered a standoff involving the islanders and authorities.

While government officials grapple with hefty penalties for the project's delays, the extraction's suspension is viewed with concern by many. According to senior official who have spoken to the local media, the Government is also liable to pay a hefty penalty for Hoagard for every day that the work remains stalled due to suspicion of sand mining with the fines including MVR 231,200 per day for the work stoppage which has now accumulated to a staggering MVR 1.5 million in fines for Hoagard.

The Vice-President of Faresmaathoda Council has also spoken to the local media stating that the sand extraction was brought to a halt as the islanders believed that it was better not to carry out the project as some of the projects being carried out on Faresmaathoda required sand as well. Additionally, the islanders also raised concerns about the fact that the sand was being taken away without dredging the land.

Giving a much-needed insight into this matter the Director of Environmental Protection Agency Ibrahim Naeem has stated that the sand mining from Faresmaathoda was allowed after looking into the matter after which the agency did not find any problems in the regard

With this  Fuvahmulah, the Maldivian community, and the state find themselves at a crossroads where environmental concerns meet the needs of development and protection. The consequences of their decisions could have far-reaching implications for the island's future.