Comments on: Hudhufushi – Dhiffushimaadhoo Area Should be Declared as Nature Reserve

By: kandufalhu

kandufalhu — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:02:19 +0000

Hey, why dont you all take up this trend again..? Very true that we have lost our focus on tourism in the Maldives. The leading entrepreneurs in the tourism industry got hypnotised by the dollar sign and created money machines. The next generation sold out to foreign investers. today, we are left with nothing to preserve or sell. The Tourism giants are focussing on other countries. They have no compassion towards this paradise anymore. Now, everyone wants to sell everything to anyone as fast as they can. This policy is now the main policy adopted by the government as well. So guys, resume your trend and make a worthy cause. ALL THE BEST!

By: BLUEPEACE blog » CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

BLUEPEACE blog » CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF LOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:40:48 +0000

[...] However, we regret that islands and areas of equally important ecological significance, such as Hudhufushi and Dhiffushimaadhoo area, have not been protected to [...]

By: mohamed

mohamed — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:22:04 +0000

this is very true as per hudhufushi and dhifushimaadhoo. hudhufushi is very unique interms of its natural shape as compare to the other island of the maldives. it is a heaven for other creatures especially birds and fishes. we have lot more islands suitable for industrial developments rather then destorying the natual habitats of important sea creatures.

By: Fenfulhangi

Fenfulhangi — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:49:13 +0000

Fen
there are many areas the tourism ministry can be focusing on ..eg:
1-Cultural Tourism [of course we have to create it]
2-Water sports [extreme sports]
3-Eco tourism
4-Spiritual Holidays
and a lot more ways than to strip these islands of natural habitats for many a creatures…
thank you

By: Natha

Natha — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:33:56 +0000

It is indeed relieving to see an organisation such as the Bluepeace fighting the good fight. We have seen the tourism industry develop drastically in the past 5 years. The pristine beaches and the natural waters are the main source of attraction, without doubt. The word “untouched” can no longer be used in describing these once truly untouched islands. What happened to the “protected zones”? It is really sad to see all these being washed out – virgin islands being pressured to survive an economic slump.

We have forgotten what enticed tourists from all around the world to visit these islands, we have lost our simplicity. The government promotes ‘sustainability’ from the one hand and allocates a dozen islands for tourism development without taking into consideration our lack of infrastructure, manpower and transportation development.

The dire state of the tourism industry is yet to surface. In addition to the threat to the environment, we need to seriously think about preserving our culture, which plays an equally important role in our heritage.

By: Fen

Fen — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:09:51 +0000

Fenfulhangi,
So what do you propose? Unless we have viable alternatives that bring in money and unless we come up with an alternative that is in the best interests of all involved, I really don’t see how we can proceed.
There are too many issues to tackle. That’s the problem. There aren’t that many people who are focused on solving one issue.
Bluepeace, Would you be interested in hiring interns for more in-depth documentation of the issues you talk about?

By: Fenfulhangi

Fenfulhangi — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:14:19 +0000

This is a great issue to tackle…an example of the recklessness of our tourism ministry in its haste to generate revenue.This is not the only island that has been stripped of its natural beauty and preservation efforts.Our Biodiversity is at a threat. Species are going extinct. Dhivehi Kambili is almost gone.Will we just wait and look while everything else gives way to tourism and cement life style?

By: -whOiswhO

-whOiswhO — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:20:50 +0000

i totally agree with BluePeace! it was mid of the year 2000… i personally worked in the bidding team which was the winning bidder “pssst pssst i shouldn’t call him as a winner” they where so sure that they will win! personal calls from “golha” was also noted! grrrrrrrrrrr.. that was past… well, my first impression about the island was not to built as a resort island.. and i did voice also, had a long conversation with tourism ministry.. that was the reason why in the proposal some environment “shit” was focused on the one side of the island. i call it “shit” coz it was planned for dream purpose, simply not true!

i just cant recall how many copies of the bid proposal where made and send to most rich people in the world ” States to Aussy, to Saudi to Russia…” i have seen investors… investing on the island, good that the owner invested the money US$2.3 million on SnowRose. at the island some rooms where built and finally the construction was dismissed cox of the funds.

So all are good signs… that still the island is kept safe! lets pray that the hudhufushi be as hudhufushi!

ends-

By: verbatim

verbatim — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:59:14 +0000

I been wondering about hudhufushi for two years, this island must be preserved as a bird santuary and also it seems that mantas breeds in the the enclosed (inside the v-shape) portion of the lagoon (mostt probably a mangrove), this is well known through out laviyani atoll, and i am happy the fact that this island have not been able to be developed as a tourist resort. even if this island is to be developed as a resort everyone should urge the government to preserve this island as a protected area. instead this island could be used for maldives nature observatory and can be used positively towards maldives.

if this island is to be developed as a tourist resort, we must act in changing the governments decision, even if its to market against any party wishing to operate this island as a tourist resort, today’s world is more environmentally aware and is much more concern, so should not be that difficult. Environmental group can lobby localy and overseas discouraging tourist to travel to these sort of signicant island hence advicing any investors not to destroy this great natural marvel.

President Maumoon loves giving speeches about global warming and sea level rise, but he does not seem to see the importance of identifying and protecting island such as these. this country always talk about sustainable tourism, THEY ACTUALLY MEANS BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURISM, appearantly nothing related to environment this is what they hide from us and from the rest of the world. I can go on talking about unethical practices of some resorts to the environment which i have witnessed over the years.

By: Gaseous

Gaseous — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:52:17 +0000

Many people from Faadhippolhu dreams that one day in a near future, the people of Faadhippolhu would be living in Dhiffushmaidhoo where we would have facilities like Airport, Seaport and other socio-economic activities flourishing in the area. These are the only islands in the atoll suitable for the purpose of centralized governance.
Not only can the people of this atoll, but other small islands also accommodate in these islands. Also this group of islands has a common shallow reef of 17 miles in length; very ideal for future expansion by reclamation.
It’s really sad that these islands are selected for the wrong purpose. These islands can be converted into a profitable industrial zone catering Noonu, Raa and Lh. Atoll.