The Government of Maldives and the European Union have signed a financing agreement to implement a major environmental project focused on community-based mangrove protection and regeneration across the country.

The agreement was formally exchanged during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday morning. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheryna Abdul Samad signed on behalf of the Maldivian government, while Dr. Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to the Maldives, presented the agreement on behalf of EU Ambassador Maria Carmen Moreno Raymundo.

Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister Sheryna expressed appreciation for the European Union’s continued support, highlighting its role as a longstanding development partner to the Maldives.

She noted that the EU’s assistance has been particularly valuable in advancing climate action priorities and strengthening environmental protection efforts.

Under the agreement, the European Union will provide a grant of €4 million to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the ecological and protective functions of mangroves.

The project will focus on community-led approaches to conserve biodiversity, strengthen coastal resilience, and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

The initiative is aligned with the Maldives’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 under the Paris Agreement, supporting nature-based solutions and promoting climate resilience in vulnerable coastal areas.

Dr. Hesse underscored the importance of combining grassroots engagement with effective policy frameworks, noting that mangroves play a critical role in coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and carbon storage.

He added that the programme will support both local communities and authorities in strengthening environmental management and planning systems.

The project is expected to enhance local capacity for sustainable ecosystem management while encouraging greater community involvement in safeguarding vulnerable coastal environments.

The agreement also reflects the continued partnership between the Maldives and the European Union in translating climate commitments into concrete action and advancing broader sustainable development goals.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the EU Delegation attended the signing ceremony.