Sustainable Development Strategy for Maldives
Maldives is a low-lying archipelago consisting of approximately 1, 190 islands, located in the Indian Ocean, lying southwest of Sri Lanka. It has exclusive economic rights over some 859, 000 km of sea surrounding the islands but its land mass is limited to only 300 km and is widely scattered over an 850 km north-south fairly narrow stretch. The fragile nature of the low lying islands and the difficulties of access to the islands make the country one of the most vulnerable communities in the world to global warming and sea level rise. Maldives is committed to develop and pursue NSDS, Agenda 21, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Maldives was among the first nations to sign the Agenda 21 at the Johannesburg summit. The Vision 2020 outlined by the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on 26th July 1999 provides the direction for sustainable development of the Maldives and is the basis for current national development policies. Vision 2020 includes social economical and environment goals; implementation strategy; tourism planning; natural resources (biodiversity and natural environment); institutions; environmental planning; laws and regulations; priority issues; and future policy directions and involvement in decision making. Furthermore, a key principle of the 7th National Development Plan is that the development policies should not compromise the ability of future generations to achieve non-declining per capita well being. The proposed way forward is optimal use of the available natural resources and the protection of critical natural capital such as water resources, coral reefs and fish breeding grounds. The 7 NDP has 12 goals and 88 targets to be achieved by 2010.
Meeting Reports
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