In February 2020, the Maldives Coral Institute, with support from the Government of Canada, held a Coral Festival in Kaafu, Thulusdhoo island.
The festival brought together the local community, scientists, NGOs, environmental activists, ocean experts, schoolchildren and university students, industry representatives, artists, and the country’s top politicians, including President Ibrahim Solih, President Nasheed, cabinet ministers, and senior President’s Office officials.
Alongside stalls, live music, art exhibitions, water activities for children, and a virtual reality ‘swim through’ showing changes to coral reefs through time, the festival also hosted panel conversations that discussed a variety of issues critical to coral reef health: from tourism and fishing, to climate change and infrastructure development. All captured on live TV, with robust questions from the public audience, the panel debates put the health of our coral reefs centre stage in Maldivian political discourse for the first time.
Engaging members of the public, local stakeholders, and political actors in the service of our coral reefs is a key objective of the Maldives Coral Institute.
