Maldives Scouts Join Five Million Tree Campaign with New ‘Tree Guardian Badge’ for Youth

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Scout Association of Maldives to actively engage young people in the Government’s national initiative to plant five million trees across the country, strengthening youth participation in environmental protection and climate resilience.
Under the partnership, Maldivian Scouts will be able to earn a newly established “Tree Guardian Badge,” designed to encourage long-term responsibility rather than a one-day planting activity. The programme follows five progressive steps: planting a tree, learning about its species, studying the surrounding ecosystem, nurturing its growth and completing an environmental pledge.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Ali Shareef thanked the Scout Association of Maldives for supporting President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s national greening initiative. He said the programme is intended not only to increase the number of trees across the Maldives, but also to help restore and enhance the country’s natural beauty.
“How can we move forward together with the Ministry on this matter, and what can the Scouts do to contribute? A very good programme was arranged through discussions with us so that this could be carried out in the form of a badge,” Minister Shareef said.
Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Maldives Ismail Rifau described the agreement as an important development for environmental engagement within Maldivian Scouting. He highlighted that the Tree Guardian Badge is based on continued care, responsibility and service, reflecting the core principles of the Scout movement.
“Planting a tree is something that can be finished in a single day. However, keeping the tree alive, growing it, and taking responsibility for it is a major long-term trust. This directly connects to the core principles of Scouting—service, responsibility, and making a difference through actions with integrity,” Rifau said.
The programme has been structured according to age groups to ensure meaningful participation at every level. Children aged five to 11 will plant a tree, observe its early growth and develop a basic appreciation for the environment. Participants aged 11 to 12 will carry out basic research on their selected tree and care for it for at least one month.
Scouts aged 12 to 18 will work in teams to plant native Maldivian trees and manage their growth over a period of two to three months. Senior Scouts aged 18 to 26 will take on greater leadership responsibilities by planning and leading reforestation projects, mentoring younger participants and monitoring ecological outcomes over a period of three to six months.
Under the agreement, the Ministry will provide suitable land plots and tree saplings for participating Scouts. The initiative is expected to strengthen personal responsibility, environmental awareness and leadership among young Maldivians while supporting the Government’s wider efforts to improve climate resilience and preserve the country’s natural environment.
For the Maldives, where the natural environment is closely linked to island communities and the tourism economy, greater youth participation in conservation is especially significant. Healthy green spaces and resilient island ecosystems contribute to the country’s appeal as a global destination, including its resort islands, where environmental stewardship and sustainable development increasingly form part of the visitor experience.
The partnership reflects the Government’s broader commitment to combining national environmental goals with practical community participation, ensuring that the five million tree initiative also creates a lasting culture of care and responsibility among future generations.