EARTH SUMMIT+5 Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 New York, 23-27 June 1997 SUCCESS STORIES FROM ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

	A Million Tree Programme
	Location	Throughout the Maldives.
	Responsible organization	Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture
	Description	Considering the large number of trees that are being cut down for timber, firewood and other purposes, tree populations on some atolls have declined alarmingly. In certain regions of the country some trees have become very rare indeed. This has given cause for concern given the importance of trees for everyday life in the Maldives. Trees also have a very important environmental role in providing protection and stability to islands. In order to meet these aims the Government of the Republic of Maldives started a programme in early 1996 to plant one million trees during the course of the next three years. This programme has been initiated by the President, Maunoon Abdul Gayoom.
	Issues addressed	To safeguard the local germplasm of plant by regenerating endemic plant species. To protect the environment, expecially beaches threatened by erosion.
	Objectives	To plant a million trees throughout the Maldives within a three-year period.
	Results achieved	By the end of September 1996, 500,000 plants have been grown throughout the Maldives.
	Lessons learned	Establishing nurseries at different regions of the country for the purpose of the distribution of seedlings. Raise awareness among school children as well as in the rural areas on the important of planting trees. Participation of voluntary organizations and individual people at different activities of the programme.
	Financing	Locally from private and public sources.
	Contact	Mr. Mohamed Zuhair, Director, Agricultural Services, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Maldives.