The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to allocate land for the construction and operation of a modern nursery in Hulhumalé, as the 'Five Million Tree Project'.

The nursery will be established with assistance from the Chinese government.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. Minister Thoriq Ibrahim signed on behalf of the Ministry, while HDC Managing Director Mohamed Mauroof Jameel represented the corporation.

A 55,000-square-foot nursery has been designed for the site in Hulhumalé and will feature a greenhouse, laboratory, training rooms, and administrative offices. It will serve as the primary facility for producing tree seedlings for the 'Five Million Tree Project' and will continue nursery operations under the supervision of HDC.

The nursery is a central component of the 'Five Million Tree Project', a nationwide initiative launched on June 5, 2024, in conjunction with World Environment Day. The project aims to plant 5,219,456 trees across the Maldives, with a strong focus on conserving endangered tree species.

Ahead of the agreement, a team from the Ministry visited China to consult with the National Forestry and Grasslands Administration. Discussions covered nursery design, species selection, and techniques to improve the effectiveness of tree cultivation and planting.

The Ministry also announced plans to organise tree-planting activities across all islands as part of this year’s World Environment Day events.