The Maldives National University (MNU) has graduated its first cohort of trained environmental rangers, a milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen the management of its protected ecological zones. The initiative forms a key part of the government’s Endheri Project, aimed at enhancing the national capacity for conservation and environmental stewardship.
Seventeen individuals completed the inaugural training programme, developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and MNU. The course was formally launched following an agreement signed in January this year and is designed to equip participants with the technical and legal skills required to oversee protected sites across the country.
The graduation ceremony took place at MNU’s Gan campus in Laamu Atoll, where the pilot programme was first introduced. Among the graduates were ten scholarship recipients from Laamu and seven individuals already working in conservation roles in other parts of the Maldives.
The curriculum spanned a wide range of topics including environmental science, law and enforcement, public engagement, basic computing, and navigation. Combining academic instruction with practical fieldwork, the course was structured to prepare participants for active deployment in the country’s many protected areas.
Despite the Maldives’ extensive network of ecologically sensitive sites, ranger numbers have historically remained low. The introduction of this training programme is seen as a necessary step to improve the long-term management and protection of the country’s natural assets.
Officials from the Environment Ministry have confirmed plans to expand the initiative, with further ranger training programmes expected in the coming months as part of the broader national environmental strategy.
