Last year, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru
celebrated the 25th anniversary of Banyan Tree group, the 15th anniversary of
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Marine Lab and the 10th anniversary of the Banyan Tree
Global Foundation (BTGF).
Another highlight is, EarthCheck Gold
certification received for their commitment to preserve the cultural heritage and
natural surrounds. These milestones were
commemorated by continuing to drive the core values of sustainable development.
The properties successfully eliminated over 90% of targeted
single-use plastic, since pledging to go Plastic Free on Earth Day 2018. New
initiatives, such as the monthly Full Moon Lights Out, further increase
resource conservation efforts and since the event began in September 2019, around
350 kWhs have been saved; which amounts to over 100 liters of fuel and is
enough energy to power an average worldwide household for a whole month.
To raise awareness about the importance of keeping good
health and wellbeing, a regular 1km open water swim is organized across the
channel between the two properties. Guests and associates are also encouraged
to go Meat Free, one day a month, to support better health for both the planet
and individuals.
Within the local communities, the both properties removed
1.5 tonnes of waste with support from over 2000 community members and
partnerships with schools and councils of Thulusdhoo, Himmafushi, Huraa and
Male, the Maldives Girl Guides Association, American Centre Maldives, Tree
Maldives, Dhirham, Arabiyya Scouts Association, and Lets Do It Maldives.
As part of the group special 25th Anniversary sustainability
efforts, focus was placed on education within communities; Banyan Tree Maldives
donated tables and chairs for classrooms that were much needed by Kaafu Atoll
Education Centre, as well as conducting educational sessions for a number of
schools and youth organizations.
Efforts also focused on empowering women and promoting
cultural recognition by providing opportunities to emerging artists from the
American Center and craftspeople who are building up their careers in
traditional artwork such as embroidery.
Environmental conservation, preservation and restoration
efforts remain a large emphasis for both Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana
Ihuru. In celebration of Banyan Tree Marine Labs 15th Anniversary, the team
expanded one of the Labs earliest projects, The Necklace, the worlds first
electric reef constructed on Angsana Ihuru in 1998. A pilot experimental assessment is being
undertaken, using corals that have been grown on the Labs various
nurseries.
Natural recovery of coral reefs has been slow in North Male
Atoll, but it is assisted by conservation, restoration and research programs.
Around 500 corals that have been growing on rope nurseries for the last two
years have been transplanted back onto Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru
house reefs. Reef and fish communities are being compared to control areas to
assess the value of assisted recovery in the Maldives.
This year is the 5th year of a collaborative project with
the Ministry of Fisheries assessing the efficacy of the shark ban to understand
the impacts on sharks, reefs, fishers and other resource users. Findings from
this were published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2019.
Looking ahead to 2020 and beyond, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and
Angsana Ihuru are setting the goals even higher, aiming to set best practices
and drive core values of sustainable development in the Maldives.
This year, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru will celebrate its own 25th
anniversary and continue to strive towards 100% single-use plastic elimination.
The Marine Lab plans to extend restoration work with the implementation of a
mid-water nursery, designed to seed corals that can be transplanted back onto
the reef, and the 2020 shark monitoring is underway now.
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