Kulhuduffushi, Maldives – Mayor of Kulhuduffushi, Mohamed Athif stated that the council has no plans to further destroy the mangroves for the development for a domestic airport, but instead they wish to build a nature park in the area.
Noting that nobody wishes to reclaim the biggest wetland in the whole country, Athif said that the council has no plans to reclaim the remaining wetland in Kulhuduffushi, nor do the people of Kulhuduffushi.
He further stated that even if the wetland is reclaimed, tall buildings cannot be build in the land as the wetland airport is nearby and added that reclamation would pose difficulties as well.
While half of the Kulhuduffushi wetland has been already reclaimed and built for an airport runway, Athif informed that the Kulhudhuffushi Council plans to build a nature park in the remaining area of the wetland.
Kulhuduffushi citizens will receive more advantage if we find another solution for the wetland than reclaiming it. We are planning to build a place such as a nature park in it.
Mayor of Kulhuduffushi, Mohamed Athif
He said that in addition to making it a place for citizens to enjoy, the council focuses on boosting local tourism in Kulhudhuffushi and increase the number of visitors to the island.
Kulhudhuffushi’s mangrove swamp is notable for having the most number of mangrove species in the Maldives, most of which are endangered. The swamp is also one of the largest in the north of the country. However, during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom presidency, about 13 hectares of Kulhudhuffushi’s mangroves and six hectares from the island’s lagoon were destroyed for the development of a domestic airport.
