What is Faru Farumaa?
'Faru Farumaa: Restoring Naifaru’s Coral Reefs' is a project due to be carried out by AMC from 2027-2029. The project will use proven techniques to restore the reef back to health and to create stewardship within the community to carry it for next generations.
Why is this project needed?
Coral reefs in the Maldives are sadly under threat. Climate-change is causing bleaching events, stressing the reef, and erosion of local islands, which increases the need for land reclamation, a process by which new land is created from oceans. In Naifaru, a large-scale land reclamation project began in 2025, impacting both the stressed coral reef and AMC’s coral garden through digging, dredging, sedimentation, and smothering. At the same time, job opportunities in coral reef restoration are difficult for local Maldivian women to access, due to the cost of SCUBA diving training, difficulty accessing job opportunities which are predominantly based on resort islands, and cultural norms discouraging women from participating.
Our solution
This project, due to run from 2027-2029, will build on AMC’s coral gardening initiatives by introducing faster and more scalable techniques, ensuring future protection of Naifaru’s reefs through community-led, long-term action. A key activity is building Naifaru’s first land-based coral nursery, where corals will be rapidly grown and later outplanted back to the reef. By sampling and rapidly growing corals which have survived recent stressors, we will ensure that the restored reef will be more resilient to future bleaching or stressful events.
This project will also establish a coral biology intern programme, in which we will provide free SCUBA diving courses and hands-on coral restoration training. Interns will receive mentorship from Anum, who has progressed from AMC intern to an impressive youth leader in Marine Conservation over the years.
Community Involvement
Community members will actively contribute by adding coral frames and healthy fragments to the existing garden, supporting its rehabilitation and expansion. This is complemented by awareness sessions, where community members will learn about reef ecosystems, threats, and practical actions they can take. These sessions will strengthen local awareness and encourage communities to take action in future decision making to mitigate impacts of coastal developments, as well as reduce everyday impacts such as pollution.
We are excited to launch this project, and to see the reef come to life!