Villa College Marine Science Students visits Baa
Four students who are studying Marine Science at Villa College has visited Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve as part of their study programme to gain information on protected areas and protected area management from 14th to 15 July.
The Outreach Team from Biosphere Reserve Office briefed them on the work carried out by the Office and the students were taken on a field trip to Hanifaru Marine Protected Area where the Rangers of BR Office briefed them on the daily activities undertaken by the Rangers in managing the protected area and the issues and challenges faced while managing the area. Villa College students also gathered more information on other protected areas of the atoll during the study tour and were provided general information on protected areas of Maldives..
This is the third instance in which Marine Science students from Villa College has visited Baa Atoll as part of their study programme.
Monthly Meeting 2 (Hanifaru Season 2017)
The second monthly meeting of Hanifaru Season 2017 was held at Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office today. Representatives from Ministry of Environment and Energy, Resorts, Baa Atoll Council, Baa Atoll Conservation Fund and Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office R Office were in attendance.
The Agenda Items for the day included update of BR Activities, update of issues discussed in the first monthly meeting, discussion on celebration of Environment day and other issues.
The next meeting is scheduled for the last week of August.
Ranger Training Workshop
A meeting was held at IUCN Maldives Male’ Office today in to discuss issues relating to the proposed Ranger training workshop amongst Ministry of Environment and Energy, Baa Atoll Conservation Fund, Climate Change Adaptation Project and Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office. The main discussion points of the meeting included logistical arrangements and commenting on the draft-training programme.
During this meeting, a skype session was also with the Australian Consultant who will be undertaking the training for the Rangers was briefed on the expected outcomes of the Workshop.
It was agreed in this meeting amongst the participants that Ranger Training will be conducted in the last week of August and participants from Fuvahmulah and Addu City Protected Area Teams together with Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Team and staff from Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Department will also be attending the Workshop.
The training program will be held in in Baa Atoll, Eydhafushi and thet raining will be conducted through the USAID funded REGENERATE Project implemented by IUCN Maldives and Environment Ministry.
Discussion on Olhugiri Management Plan
Representatives from Ministry of Environment and Energy, Baa Atoll Conservation Fund, Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office and Environmental Protection Agency has met to discuss and comment on the draft of Olhugiri Protected Area Integrated Management Plan today.
This was the second meeting held in a month to discuss the management plan and it was decided in this meeting that the required follow-up community consolations and the necessary field trips should be completed by the end of September.
