A resident of Haa Dhaal Vaikaradhoo has filed a lawsuit at the Vaikaradhoo Magistrate Court against the local council, following the large-scale removal and transport of trees away from the island.
The claimant, Ali Rifhan, alleges in his filing that the council has failed to fulfill its legal obligations to protect the environment and ensure the constitutional right to a clean and healthy living environment.
"The council is acting in a manner that infringes upon constitutional rights, exposing the island’s vegetation and fertile soil to potential destruction," Rifhan stated. "The objective of this case is to halt these activities, compel the council to fulfill its legal responsibilities, and safeguard the rights guaranteed by the Constitution."
Rifhan highlighted that under the Constitution and environmental protection laws and regulations, mature trees are legally protected. He further noted that while it is the council’s responsibility to maintain and annually update a registry of such trees, the Vaikaradhoo Council has failed to do so.
In his submission, Rifhan raised several additional concerns regarding the impact of the council's actions:
- Trees are vital natural resources essential for the physical and mental well-being of residents, and their removal poses a threat to public health.
- The removal of the island’s ancient, nutrient-rich black soil along with the trees is a major concern, as this soil is a critical resource for local food security and resilience.
- Vegetation plays a crucial role in air purification, particularly during the Northeast Monsoon (Iruvai) when the Maldives experiences seasonal haze, which poses a respiratory health risk.
- Trees are indispensable for climate resilience in a warming world, serving as a natural mechanism to regulate and maintain bearable island temperatures.
Through this legal action, Rifhan is seeking to protect the island and its community from the ongoing depletion of its natural vegetation and soil capital facilitated by the local council.
His goal is to secure a sustainable legal remedy that ensures the council operates within the bounds of the law and upholds its statutory environmental duties.
The unregulated uprooting and removal of trees from various islands across the Maldives has sparked public outcry. In recent years, local communities have increasingly taken direct action to intervene and stop the removal of trees from their islands.
