President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to declare five islands in the Lhaviyani Atoll as protected islands.

The newly declared protected islands are, Sellhifushi swamp area, Maako, Vahvaru, Dhandifalhu reef drop off and the Dhashugiri sand bank area.

President Solih made the decision to protect the islands after discussing a document presented by the Environment Ministry at an online Cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon.

The President’s Office said that the most important basis for protecting these areas are the traditional knowledge and the research reports along with expert opinions from fishermen, farmers and island organizations.

At the meeting, the Environment Ministry said that there were two areas of Lhaviyani Atoll that were declared as protected in the past. They are the Fushifaru shallows on 27 September 1995 and the Kurehdhoo reef drop off on 21 October 1999.

Environment Minister, Dr. Hussain Rasheed spoke at the meeting saying that the protection of these areas would benefit the younger generations and held develop eco-tourism and integrated tourism.

Under the first phase of the government’s promise to protect at least one island, one reef and one swamp in each atoll, 14 areas in Haa Alifu Atoll, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Shaviyani Atoll and Noonu Atoll have been declared as protected along with four areas in Addu City and the south east part of Fuvahmulah City.