Campaign against proposed Boahura resort: 'Destroying natural wealth'
"Normally, there is no link between what one ministry does and another", Shazia Saeed, Save the Beach.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
The proposed development of a resort in Boahura, which is adjacent to M. Muli, has raised concerns among surfers and non-governmental organisations active in the area.`
Tourism ministry opened bids for the development of resorts in 15 islands and lagoons, including M. Boahura, one of the most popular destinations in the Maldives. At the same time, environmental advocacy groups and surfers in the area have been expressing outrage.
Speaking to Atoll Times, Shifau Rauf, a surfer in Muli, also expressed concern on Wednesday that the country's natural resources, which are used by many people, are being misused. For the people of the area, Boahura is important, says Shifaz:
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It is an area where people usually go to enjoy and spend their free time
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It is an area where people from Muli and tourists who come to the islands with guesthouses in the area usually go to surf
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From Muli alone around 20 people surf at the site
"If they try to make it into a resort, it is expected that the waves that are coming to the place will change. It wont be the same," he said.
Save the Beach, an environmental advocacy group, also raised concerns over the issue. Shazia Saeed, one of the founders of the organisation, told Atoll Time son Wednesday that it was not acceptable to open up a resort in the area where the surf break is in place so that it cannot be used by the public.
"If you build a resort, you might think you can generate a lot of money from there. But then it will be an exclusive place and you can't use it unless you come to stay at the resort," Shazia said.
She also said:
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Her NGO has already requested the Environment Ministry to make it a legally protected area
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The effort did not make much headway
"Normally, there is no link between what one ministry does and another. The tourism [ministry] is doing this, right? No matter how much the environment ministry tries to protect, there is no link between the two ministries," Shazia said.
She said she is also working with World Surfing Reserves, an international organisation that advocates conservation of surf ecosystems to protect places like Surf Break in Boahura. However, she pointed out that if a resort was built there, it would not be possible to go ahead with it either.
"We are working closely with the World Surfing Reserves to ensure that such places in the country are converted into heritage sites and declared as biosphere reserves. But that will also happen if such places get heritage sites and community engagement, it won't happen by allowing a resort to come up," Shazia said.
Boahura:
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Was declared a part of Muli in 2016
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Muli Council decided the same year to develop the area as a tourism zone
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Boahura is one of the islands to be allotted for tourism in 2019
