The Environment Ministry has announced that a total of 498,968 trees have been planted so far under the government’s ambitious Five Million Tree Planting project,  a key presidential pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Launched on June 5 last year, the initiative aims to plant 5,219,456 trees across the Maldives over a five-year period.

The project gives special attention to planting rare and endangered tree species native to the country, in an effort to preserve biodiversity and bolster the Maldives’ fragile ecosystem.

Several major state-owned companies have committed to the project.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) have pledged to each plant one million trees.

Stelco has committed to planting 500,000 trees, SDM Farm plans to plant 750,000, and the Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) will contribute 60,000.

Additionally, over 1.3 million trees will be planted by various other stakeholders.

HDC, MPL, and Stelco have already planted a significant number of trees as part of their contributions.

This large-scale tree-planting effort is a central part of the government’s broader strategy to protect the country’s delicate environmental systems and address the adverse effects of climate change, ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for upcoming generations.