Maldives
The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation, in the Indian Ocean, south of India’s Lakshadweep islands, and about seven hundred kilometres south-west of Sri Lanka. The twenty-six atolls of Maldives’ encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, two hundred and fifty islands of which are inhabited.
The Maldives holds the record for being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 m, though in areas where construction exists this has been increased to several metres. Over the last century, sea levels have risen about 20 centimetres (8 in); further rises of the ocean could threaten the existence of Maldives.
The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean has a great affect on the country’s climate. The limited vegetation is supplemented by the abundance of coral reefs and marine life.
Seagrass-Watch in the Maldives
To provide an early warning of change, long-term monitoring has been established in the Maldives as part of the Seagrass-Watch, Global Seagrass Observing Network (www.seagrasswatch.org). Establishing a network of monitoring sites in the Maldives provides valuable information on temporal trends in the health status of seagrass meadows in the region and provides a tool for decision-makers in adopting protective measures. It encourages local communities to become involved in seagrass management and protection. Working with both scientists and local stakeholders, this approach is designed to draw attention to the many local anthropogenic impacts on seagrass meadows which degrade coastal ecosystems and decrease their yield of natural resources.
Location
Kuda Huraa
Monitoring: suspended
Principal watchers: Four Seasons Marine Team
Location: Kuda Huraa, North Male Atoll
Site code: KH1