What
The Baa Atoll covers an area of over 139,000 hectares, located in the central region of the Maldives. The atoll is rich in biodiversity, including coral reefs, islands, and sea grass beds and mangroves. In 2011, it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The reserve consists of nine core areas in which extraction of any kind of prohibited. The Biosphere Reserve was designated GEF funding to establish the protection and management mechanisms. Government funds, private sector financing, and funds generated through tourism contribute to conservation, research, and community development. Tourism incomes generated from the natural assets and ecosystem services of the biodiversity rich Atoll are channeled into an independent Trust Fund designed to support conservation, research, education, and community sustainable development.

Goal
The Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve aims to conserve and effectively manage the globally significant biodiversity of the Baa Atoll while supporting sustainable development of local communities.

Recent activities
A Trust Fund has been established to where funds are transferred to support the conservation of coastal and marine biodiversity in the Baa Atoll. The Fund is managed by an independent Fund Board. Small grants are provided to the community through the Fund, which also supports the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office and education and research activities, on top of the conservation of the ecosystem.

Benefits
The Biosphere Reserve and Trust Fund model recognize the ecological and economic value of the atoll’s biodiversity and seek to conserve it for the benefit both of nature and economic income through tourism. The Biosphere has enabled effective management and conservation of globally significant biodiversity, ranging from coral reefs to sea grass beds and mangroves. The reefs support approximately 250 species of corals, 1,200 reef and reef-associated fish species, marine turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, and seabirds, including threatened and endangered species.

Lessons learned
The success of the Baa Atoll and the conservation trust fund has resulted in the model being replicated elsewhere in the Maldives: The Addu Atol and Fuvahmulah Atoll Biosphere Reserves.

Synergies with other Points of the 10 Point Plan
4 – Domestic Resource Mobilization
5 – Private Sector Alignment

Relevant links and resources
http://www.broffice.gov.mv/en/