Coastal Protection at Gn. Fuvahmulah (Development Phase)

The project is situated on the southern islands of the Maldives: Gn. Fuvahmulah, S. Maradhoo and S. Feydhoo. In the Maldives over 80% of the islands in the country are experiencing serious beach problems and coastal erosion. These problems can result in flooding of the islands as they are only 1 to 2 meters above sea level. The southern islands are in most urgent need for coastal protection compared to other islands. As they are isolated from the other islands in the Maldives they do not benefit from any protection against waves and currents from other islands.All southern islands are densely populated. Land on Fuvahmulah Maradhoo and Feydhoo is very scarce and the continuous erosion and salt intrusion further reduce the available land and make the land more vulnerable to sea induced flooding. In Fuvahmulah one of the largest islands in the Maldives the shoreline is never further away than approximately 400 meters. On the islands of Maradhoo and Feydhoo which are fully occupied by buildings and infrastructure nobody is living more than 200 meters from the shoreline. The southern islands are crucial in maintaining the socio economic balance of the country.The long term overall objective of the project is to protect the southern islands of Fuvahmulah Maradhoo and Feydhoo against flooding due to rising sea-level and the ongoing coast erosion in order to protect the population of these islands. The combination of beach replenishment with revetments will protect the shorelines of the southern islands of Maldives against erosion and subsequent flooding in a sustainable effective and cost-efficient way.