Soneva Jani, the first resort in the country to be declared an Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure (OECM) by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has received official designation.
The OECM status is a welcome addition to the resort’s ongoing commitment to conserving the Maldives’ natural resources, while providing guests with a luxury hospitality experience.
Conservation Milestone at Maldivian Resort
Soneva Jani’s OECM status is a milestone in the resort’s history and a new benchmark for conservation in the hospitality sector in Maldives.
An OECM is a geographically defined area where sites and areas are designated for the purpose of conserving and maintaining ecosystems and species regardless of whether the sites and areas are not intentionally managed as protected areas.
Soneva Jani has identified 0.41 square kilometres of its eastern leeward region of Medhufaru island as its OECM.
The OECM includes a range of reef, beach, mangrove and wetland habitats that provide a range of benefits to the local biodiversity of the region .
Contributing to 30x30 for the Maldives.
Soneva Jani is happy to support the conservation efforts of the Republic of Maldives to reach the 30×30 target.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has set a target to protect 30 percent of land, inland waters and oceans by 2030.
This target is reinforced by Soneva Jani’s designation which is an example of a successful resort-hosted conservation area which effectively protects biodiversity.
Wetlands and Reefs to Save
The habitats within Soneva Jani’s OECM are key to conserving and maintaining the biodiversity found within and around Medhufaru.
The area is a breeding ground for Hawksbill and Green turtles, both of which are protected under Maldivian law.
The protection of the reef, beach and wetland habitats of this OECM and the biodiversity they support will have wide impact in the region.
The area’s mangrove and wetland habitats support a rich diversity of biodiversity and provide a range of other environmental benefits.
The vegetation plays a crucial role in protecting the shoreline naturally, as well as filtering water and sequestering carbon, which are important for the wellbeing of the Mdhufaru area.
Such natural defences are especially important for island regions such as the Maldives.
Ecological Surveys Reveal Rich Biodiversity
Following a year of extensive ecological surveys, research and documentation, Soneva Jani was awarded OECM status.
This was made possible with the support of the Waitt Foundation, and the cooperation and collaboration of the Soneva Jani team, and was carried out by Soneva Conservation & Sustainability Maldives.
Research has been vital throughout the year to learn more about the region’s rich biodiversity and identify areas that need more conservation work.
Soneva Jani builds on science-based conservation practices to harness not only the local ecology, but to make a major contribution to wider regional and global conservation efforts.
Luxury Hospitality and Conservation Can Be Done Together
Soneva CEO Neil Gallagher was quick to point out the achievement proves conservation and luxury hospitality can go hand-in-hand.
“Soneva Jani is proof that tourism and conservation can co-exist,” said Gallagher.
Designating the Resort as an OECM exemplifies the opportunity for conservation-friendly operations to be conducted at Soneva Jani and, by extension, the greater Maldives region.
Soneva’s OECM status reflects the company’s unique ability to protect the very environment that its guests come to experience.
Ongoing Dedication to Conservation
The OECM designation of Soneva Jani is a major milestone, but only the start of the company’s long-term commitment to ensuring that the resort maintains its conservation practices.
The resort has a five-year review cycle for its OECM designation which means that the management team will be undertaking an annual assessment of the area to ensure that the conservation objectives of the OECM are being met.
“Our teams’ commitment to conservation goes beyond the award of OECM status,” said Dr Johanna Leonhardt, Director of Operations, Soneva Conservation and Sustainability Maldives.
Their key concern, she said, is to ensure that they achieve lasting, verifiable gains for nature and its biodiversity.
Developing a New Model of Eco-Resorts
The designation of the first OECM resort in the Maldives, Sonvea Jani, presents a crucial opportunity to set a new standard for sustainable luxury hospitality.
Soneva Jani’s conservation successes show that a luxury resort can go beyond typical conservation activities and provide lasting environmental benefits for the local area.
Soneva Jani, a resort that prides itself on the luxury experience that is second to none, understands the importance of protecting the natural resources that bring people to the Maldives.
The OECM designation is yet another feather in Soneva Group’s long list of conservation achievements.
Soneva Jani’s status as the first resort OECM in the Maldives is a powerful reminder to the international hospitality industry that sustainability and luxury can go hand-in-hand, if there is a will to make it work.
