Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Training on mapping with Drones

Staff from Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office is scheduled to undergo short term training course on Mapping with drones at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok from 22 to 26 July 2019.

The training which includes the basics of photogrammetry, integration of GIS for drone map products, surveying methodology and the use of drones in mapping will boost the existing knowledge of mapping at BR Office for monitoring of protected areas.

Watchout our facebook page for more developments on this.

World Ranger Day

Today we celebrate World Ranger Day.

World Ranger Day is observed annually on the 31st of July, and is promoted by the 54 member associations of the International Ranger Federation (IRF). The first World Ranger Day was observed in 2007 on the 15th anniversary of the founding of the International Ranger Federation. .

It’s estimated there are more than 100,000 reserves, parks and protected areas around the world.

Every day Park Rangers risk their lives to protect wildlife and habitats from poaching and other threats. They are generally under-equipped, underpaid, and because they usually work in remote areas out of the media spotlight, they are often under-appreciated.

Rangers work tirelessly to protect some of the world's most endangered species like tigers, elephants and rhinos—animals that are also among the most widely targeted by poachers for the illegal wildlife trade.

Around the globe, park rangers are on the front line in the fight to protect our natural heritage. World Ranger Day offers a chance to support their vital work, which ranges from environmental campaigning to education. The day is also an opportunity to pay tribute to rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Though we have only recently started Ranger services at various protected areas in the Maldives the work that has been undertaken so far by the Rangers is outstanding and we at BR office slaute all Rangers who are active on duty throughout the Maldives.

GEF mission visits Baa Atoll

A team from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has completed a mission to Maldives to evaluate outcomes of 7 projects , some of which are ongoing and others completed with funding from GEF in Maldives and among those completed included in Baa Atoll.

The Government of Maldives together with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project (AEC Project) in 2004 in Baa Atoll which was successfully completed in 2012.

The three main objectives of the Project were (a). Conservation of biological diversity, (b) Mainstreaming of biodiversity at a policy level and (c) the improvement of livelihood.

The two most important outcomes of the AEC Project was the declaration of Baa Atoll as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the subsequent opening of Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office in Eydhafushi to manage the Biosphere Reserve and the establishment of Baa Atoll Conservation Fund to financially sustain the programmes of the Biosphere Reserve Office.

The GEF Evaluation mission to the Maldives visited the country from 22 July – 1 August 2019 and visited visited Baa Atoll on 25 July 2019 and met with the staff of Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office and met with the main project stakeholders in the atoll and undertook interviews and site visits to gather a deeper understanding of the extent and drivers of sustainability of the outcomes of GEF support towards SIDS’ main environmental challenges from the countries’ perspective.

The work by GEF is being carried out as part of the independence Evaluation Office of the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) in small island developing states (SIDS) and since Maldives has been selected for an evaluation mission covering the strategic cluster Evaluation (SCCE) of the SIDS by Global Environment Facility (GEF).

A separate meeting was also held with the then Project Manager of the Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project Mr.Abdulla Shibau in Male’ on 31 July 2019 where the Consultant from GEF gathered information regarding the project, outcome, sustainability and way forward.

Villa College Students visit Baa Atoll BR

During the short stay in the Biosphere Reserve the students were given presentations on Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve by the Biosphere Rserve Team and was also taken to Hanifaru bay, home of the manta rays where they experineced practical knowledge of how the area is managed through interactions with the Rangers.

Previously on 2 occasions Villa College students have visited Baa Atoll to complete the Marine Science Programme.

Villa College has been conducting Marine Science Programme since 2014 onwards.