Aadhangau Island, Maldives

Project Summary

As part of a sustainable tourism development initiative with WOW Architects, bioSEA conducted an ecological and biodiversity assessment for Aadhangau Private Island in the Maldives. The assessment incorporated terrestrial and marine surveys, habitat mapping which led to the development of biodiversity indicators and ecological resilience into the island’s master plan. The scope of bioSEA’s study complemented the full-scale Environmental Impact Assessment study conducted by a local Maldivian company. 

The study identified key ecological features, including coral reef habitats, rocky shores, and diverse coastal vegetation on the island. Marine habitats were classified into reef crests, reef flats, and subtidal lagoon sands, while terrestrial habitats were mapped into seven polygons, representing varied vegetation types. Several globally threatened species were identified like the Staghorn coral, Blacktip reef shark, and Humphead wrasse. 

bioSEA developed a new metric for the country titled the Maldives Biodiversity Accounting Metric (MBAM) using which our ecological team calculated Aadhangau’s baseline habitat units. The assessment emphasized the potential for a net biodiversity gain by enhancing coral reefs, creating freshwater and brackish ponds, and protecting existing natural habitats like rocky shores and mangroves.

Special recommendations highlighted the opportunity to celebrate the annual dragonfly migration (“Iruvai”) by creating freshwater habitats, fostering both ecological and cultural value. These efforts aim to position Aadhangau as a model for sustainable island development, balancing ecological preservation with tourism and development needs.