A Community Engagement Forum was conducted as part of marking the World Environment Day 2025. This forum was held on 28th June 2025, at Laamu Fonadhoo Ijuthimaaee Marukazu. The objective of this forum was mainly to engage with stakeholders and conduct discussions on adaptation planning and environmental conservation.
The forum was opened by the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Honorable Thorig Ibrahim. In his opening speech he highlighted the importance and encouraged the participation of communities and NGOs, to strengthen adaptation actions and in achieving environmental conservation targets. The Laamu Atoll Council President Mr. Ismail Ali and L.Gamu Council President Mr. Ahmed Zaky participated in the opening ceremony.
The participants included Council Representatives and Women’s Development Committees of Mundoo, Kalaidhoo, Isdhoo and Fonadhoo; NGOs of Laamu and other areas of the Maldives. In this forum, discussions were conducted regarding the environmental and climate change challenges faced in the different islands in Laamu Atoll. Additionally, participants discussed ways to integrate island level plans into national plans. The discussions were conducted in groups in two sessions, followed by presentations of their discussions.
This forum was conducted under the Advancing the National Adaptation Plan of the Maldives (NAP Maldives) project. The project is implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).