Commitment to a Carbon-Neutral MNU

This is part of an MNU Grant Study supported by Atmosphere Foundation. The aim of this study is to assess the existing and introduced bamboo species found in different regions of the Maldives, conduct habitat assignment and morphological analysis, and evaluate their impact on soil conditions. This will help to understand the growth, development, and ecological influence of bamboo in various environments.
The purpose of this research is to identify and categorize existing bamboo species across different islands in the Maldives, study their morphological characteristics, and assess their ecological impact, particularly on soil quality. The results will inform sustainable bamboo management practices and contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts in the region.
Research Objectives includes: To identify and classify the existing bamboo species found in different islands of the Maldives.
To conduct morphological assessments of bamboo existing species, focusing on key parameters such as culm height, diameter, internode length, number of nodes, and root biomass.
To assess the habitat conditions of existing and introduced bamboo species across various islands and assign species to specific habitat types.
To evaluate the impact of existing bamboo plantations on soil characteristics, including soil organic carbon content, pH, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) levels.
To analyze the growth and development of existing and introduced bamboo species in different regions using statistical methods and identify any significant differences.
To understand the ecological benefits of bamboo in soil conservation and potential for improving soil health and carbon sequestration..

The purpose of this project is to develop a community farming project with greenhouse hydroponic systems which will be opened for interested individuals to harvest fruits / vegetables and produce an income while the Co-operative society will lease, safeguard and manage the land area including consultancy services to the
farmers in growing their crops, providing direct attention and material.
4.2 Objectives
The objectives for the proposed project are
– To diversify the economy from a majority tertiary level of service providing to a primary production level
– To provide the community with fresh, healthy food products
– To ensure the food safety and well-being of the community even in any risky situation
– To empower women and youth in to agriculture and agri-business concepts for income support
– To promote sustainable agriculture concepts and conservation of land and soil from continuous treat of
chemicals
– Increase and promoting of low carbon usage or renewable energy in farming

Under the project “Building Capacity to Improve Air Quality in South Asia: Reducing PM2.5 Through Low-Cost Sensor Network Driven Policy Decisions”, led by Duke University, funded by the US Department of State, MNU has installed 18 low cost sensors across the Maldives. This makes it the largest air quality sensor network to exist so far in the country. This pilot project in the Maldives aims to monitor PM2.5 levels in South Asian countries by deploying and maintaining low-cost sensors, continue monitoring PM2.5 levels and generate recommendations to reduce PM2.5 to healthier levels.
TSI BlueSky sensors (model 8143) are used for monitoring PM₂.₅ concentration. The 18 sensors were deployed in several deployment projects from September 2021 to May 2023. There are currently 14 sensors in operation, which continues to monitor PM2.5 levels. The sensors were first harmonised through inter-sensor colocation, and then one of the sensors was calibrated against a BAM instrument operated at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. This calibrated sensor was subsequently used to calibrate the rest of the network across the Maldives.
Real-time PM₂.₅ levels can be accessed by registering at tsilink.com and logging into the site. You can zoom in or out to view PM₂.₅ levels in your neighborhood using the mouse or the navigation buttons located below your username on the right-hand side.The Air Quality Index (AQI), displayed at the bottom-left corner, indicates the level of health concern based on the color of the pin at each location.