Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has launched a coral restoration effort in the Channel Park of Hulhumalé Phase I, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI). The initiative, titled the ‘Coral Garden Project’, was officially launched on Tuesday and is designed to restore and enhance marine biodiversity in the area.
The project will be implemented in phases, with additional coral planting planned over the coming year. HDC has said the primary objective is to establish an underwater garden by creating a thriving habitat for a range of marine species.
In a statement, HDC Managing Director Mohamed Mauroof Jameel said the project is also intended to foster stronger community engagement through conservation activities, while reviving coral ecosystems in a high-traffic urban marine environment.
The restoration work involves the use of MARRS frames, a widely used coral reef restoration structure, to help monitor coral health, growth, and survival. The selected location in Channel Park is expected to benefit from this intervention, offering a potential model for similar initiatives across other reclaimed and developed coastal areas in the Maldives.
