Narrator Since the nineteen fifties
thousands of South Asian leaders have seized the opportunity to further their
knowledge at Australian universities through prestigious Australia awards
scholarships their new knowledge and skills are
improving countless lives in their home countries
Naeem I think Maldives is a country where we have
a very beautiful environment and itís really a very fragile environment.
If we donít care for our environment we will not be safe here because itís the environment
which protects us if you think of all aspects of life ñ physically, socially, economically
itís the environment which protects us Ö And our economic pillars like the tourism
or the fisheries, both depend on the quality of the environment.
Naeem As a result of the people using the same resources
at the same time there are conflicts and resource depletion.
And we have seen a decrease in the abundance and number of for example manta rays and whale
sharks and this decrease is negatively impacting the economy and the livelihood of the people.
Narrator Baa Atoll in the Maldives is home to 11,000
people and eight high-end resorts scattered across 75 islands.
Below the water line it is also home to a wealth of marine life, including whale sharks
and manta rays.
Surrounding the seemingly insignificant Hanifaru island, is a globally significant manta ray
breeding ground, attracting tourists and vital income for the entire Atoll.
To manage this valuable resource sustainably, the government has declared Baa Atoll Maldives
first Biosphere Reserve so that people and nature can co-exist harmoniously.
The Atollís ëhoney potí, Hanifaru island, has been declared the countryís first protected
marine park.
Visitor numbers are now limited and those who enter pay a fee.
Narrator As head of the Environmental Protection Agency,
it is Naeemís job to help make the Maldivesí first biosphere and marine park work.
He says his Australia Awards Scholarship, which allowed him to do a Masters at the University
of Queensland in Environmental Management, positioned him to lead the EPA as it faces
the many challenges this entails.
Naeem We have so many challenges.
One is the lack of trained people in protecting and managing these areas.
are now training local staff in
the Baa Atoll that is a new development.
Narrator Among those being trained is ranger Ahmed
Fareesh.
He grew up in the area and with national unemployment hovering around 28%, he is pleased to have
landed a good local job.
Ranger We are attending a scene (clip D03 0094)
They are catching sea cucumbers Ö Iíve told them this is a protected area and you canít
do anything itís strictly prohibited and I asked them to leave.
Ranger This is the ranger team.
This team is especially for the Hanifar Area.
Actually, first of all I didnít have any idea what is a ranger because it is new to
this area ñ to the Maldives and this is the first place in Maldives which is protected
and monitored.
But, later I got to know each and everything - the concept of this rules and regulations.
So, it is really fascinating to me this work.
Narrator Key to making the biosphere and protected
areas work is ensuring that local people also gain direct benefits.
The income generated through the park entrance fee is being channelled to the newly established
Baa Atoll Conservation Fund and local groups will be able to apply for grants to do preservation,
livelihoods or awareness activities.
Sagmth I feel the park is a very good idea.
Because it is protected there will be more species in that area and tourists will come.
Narrator Saamat is a single mother of two and disabled
in an accident, her main income is fishing.
She is hopeful that the new fund will spark more livelihood opportunities for people on
the island.
She has started thinking about how her passion for cooking might be turned into a business
selling snacks to visitors and involving a group of local women.
Naeem My dream is to see that the system works as
a fully functional biosphere reserve and the local people who are living there start getting
direct benefits from the biosphere reserve, thatís my dream and I am hoping that many
other biosphere reserves and marine parks will be established in the Maldives elsewhere
wherein the benefits of those reserves or parks will actually be given to the locals.
Narrator Many Australia Awards Alumnus like Naeem are
using the knowledge and connections they gained in Australia to make a difference back home.
With rangers and other trained staff now on the ground in Baa Atoll, the Conservation
Fund up and running and stakeholders rallying behind the effort, Naeemís dream is well
on the way to becoming a reality.