Project

Conservation of Atoll ecosystems through an Effectively managed National protected area Estate – CATENATE

03 Jun 2025

The Government of the Republic of Maldives through the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, as the lead Executing agency, is implementing ‘Conservation of Atoll Ecosystems through an effectively managed NATional protected area Estate (CATENATE)’ project financed by Global Environmnet Facility (GEF) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the GEF Implementing Agency.

The CATENATE project is aimed at safeguarding nationally and globally significant coral reef biodiversity and associated ecosystems by establishing, governing, and sustaining a resilient network of equitably and effectively managed Protected Areas in the Maldives. The project focuses on the 15 protected areas (PAs) of Boduthiladhunmathi Atoll in the northernmost part of the Maldives, with the focal project at Shaviyani Farukolhu Protected Area. This area contains a representative set of the significant global and national biodiversity values of the Maldives archipelago.

 Project Objective:

To safeguard nationally and globally significant coral reef biodiversity and associated ecosystems through a resilient network of equitably and effectively managed protected and conserved areas in the Maldives

CATENATE Project Outcomes:

Improved Protected Area network governance mechanisms

The Protected Area network has an integrated and equitable sustainable financing system

Effective communication and knowledge dissemination to communities and stakeholders

Funded by: Global Environment Facility

Implementing Agency: IUCN

Executing Agency: Ministry of Tourism and Environment

Project site:

Focused on Boduthiladhunmathi Atoll with the project site as Sh. Farukolhu Protected Area.

Stakeholders:

During the CATENATE design and implementation, the project will work with stakeholders at the national, regional/atoll (Boduthiladhunmathi) as well as local level at the project site (Farukolhu PA).

Project Timeline

02 Jun 2025

First Meeting of the Project Steering Committee Meeting

The first meeting of the CATENATE Project Steering Committee (PSC) was held on 2 June 2025. The purpose of this steering committee is to review and approve annual work plans and budgets. Some specific responsibilities of the PSC include:
- Aligning the project with other regional and national initiatives;
- Overseeing project progress and take timely actions to resolve implementation constraints;
- Reviewing annual financial reports on project activities;
- Reviewing and approving annual work plans; budget and procurement plan
- Adopting project evaluation reports, and
- Making recommendations to the project manager and the various actors involved in the project.
The PSC comprises of members from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Maldives Marine Research Institute, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Shaviyani Funadhoo Council, and the Maldives National University. The GEF implementation agency of CATENATE Project, IUCN also sits on the PSC as an observer.

22 Apr 2025

CATENATE Project Inception was held at Sh. Funadhoo