The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has introduced Natural Capital Accounting in Laamu Atoll under the Enhancing National Development through Environmentally Resilient Islands (ENDhERI) project.

The initiative aims to raise awareness about the value of services provided by nature and the need to factor these into national planning and development.

According to the Ministry, many of the benefits people receive from the environment are used without recognising their true worth. The Natural Capital Accounting framework will help assess the value of natural systems such as coral reefs, wetlands, and forests, and highlight their connection to livelihoods, economic activity, and long-term sustainability.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the ENDhERI project is implemented with support from the United Nations Environment Programme and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. A key objective is to improve the health and resilience of reef ecosystems by integrating environmental accounting into development plans.

The Ministry added that further updates on the progress in Laamu Atoll will be shared in the coming days and confirmed that similar initiatives are planned for other regions across the country.