Activities in Eydhafush

Eydhafushi is an island in Baa Atoll, which lies in the northern group of atolls. The island has a population of 2,006 people and it is one of the major fishing islands. Eydhafushi is the atoll capital, and an Atoll Media Production Centre has been established here. There is no airport on this island, although a nearby resort island has an air taxi service. Otherwise transport is by launch from Male. The Baa Atoll Education Centre, one of the schools selected for the Small Islands Voice youth forum, was the first atoll education centre to be established in the Maldives and will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Atoll Education Centre teaches grades 1 through 12. A survey of the general public's views on environment and development was conducted in Eydhafushi in 2003 and the Atoll Education Centre participated in the Small Islands Voice internet-based youth forum.

The main issue on the island was waste management and the island committee was keen on building a waste dump site on the island. In early 2004 they prepared an outline and a cost estimate for the site. But after consultation with the Ministry of Environment, the idea was changed. The Environment Ministry felt that the proposal for the dump site was not appropriate for the island. So they suggested first of all conducting a waste characterization survey for the island. The students of the island school will be conducting the survey during the first half of 2004, in their homes and on the island reef and lagoon. The details of this survey are being prepared with the assistance of the Environment Ministry.

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