MALDIVES The Maldives, a chain of 1,191 coral islands west of Sri Lanka, has little forest cover—less than 2,500 acres (1,000 ha). The Maldives face exceptional environmental problems in the near future due not to local deforestation, but to the actions of developed countries: the Maldives will be flooded because of global warming. No island rises more than 6 feet (1.8 m) and 80 percent of the land area is under 3 feet (1 m). In 1987, the Maldives got a preview of what is to come: one-third of the nation was flooded. In an effort to stave off flooding as long as possible, the Maldives have banned the collection of coral and the use of anchors on the coral reefs that protect the islands. Around the most populated island of Male, the degradation of natural reef forced the government to install artificial breakwaters made of concrete tetrapods at a cost of US$10 million per kilometer, an expense the Maldives can ill afford.

Suggested reading - Books

• Lonely Planet Maldives
• Maldives Travel Pack
• Birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Image courtesy of the CIA

CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile
World Resources Institute


Last updated: 4 Feb 2006