Concern over resort development in protected Keylakunu
The island, which also has a huge 10-hectare creek, is known for its natural flora and fauna.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Eco Care Maldives, an environmental organization working to protect the environment in H.Dh. atoll, has called on the government to stop the decision to turn the uninhabited island into an eco-tourism destination.
Keylakunu, which has extraordinary natural beauty, was declared a protected island by the former government in 2018 after the Yameen government before started working to develop tourism in the island, and the public protested.
This government's 'Week 14' included developing the island for eco-tourism. The Cabinet has decided to start the work as soon as possible, Minister Abdullah Nazim told a press conference at the President's Office on Sunday night.
In a post on X on Monday, Eco Care Maldives called for a halt to the use of the island for tourism purposes after it had been made a protected area with a lot of work to prevent tourism on the island.
In the post, Eco Care said:
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Keylakunu is an extraordinary natural heritage
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The place should be designated as a protected area
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The amount of people coming and going to the island should be kept at a certain level to avoid losing the natural beauty of the island, and causing extensive harm to its environment
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We repeat our call in 2017 to keep the island as it is
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Keeping Keylakunu as a protected area is also a must for future generations
At a meeting held at the President's Office on Sunday night, Minister Nazim said the Cabinet had decided to develop eco-tourism in the island. As such, he said:
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Conduct a detailed study in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and relevant agencies to identify how the island can be developed without damaging the natural beauty and natural life of the sea
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Establishment of a special digital center for visitors to the island
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Visitors to the island will be given full information about the history of the island, historical sites in the island and the wildlife around the island
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To study the possibility of building floating rooms for visitors without damaging the lagoon, swamps and coral reefs of the island
Keylakunu was opened in 2017 for tourism development. It was stopped after strong campaigns by many environmental organizations and the public. The site has since been declared a protected area.
At 80.23 hectares in size, the unique feature of the island is the large wooded area in the island. It is the only island in the country that has such thick woods. The island, which also has a huge 10-hectare creek, is known for its natural flora and fauna. The island is also known for breeding of birds and turtles.
The island is said to have been deserted in 1820 after a strange storm.
