/PRNewswire/ — The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Maldives and Huawei have launched a new initiative to modernize the management of the South Ari Marine Protected Area (SAMPA). Using ground-breaking field monitoring technology and real-time communication tools, the Tech4Nature project aims to protect the iconic basking shark population while balancing socio-economic pressures in this world-famous tourist destination.
Photo: © Ishan @seefromthesky from Unsplash
As the largest marine protected area in the Maldives and a globally important year-round gathering place for giant sharks (Rhinocondon typus) přitahuje SAMPA každoročně tisíce návštěvníků. Its vast area and numerous access points present a significant logistical challenge to traditional monitoring methods. The Tech4Nature project addresses these shortcomings by providing rangers with a set of digital tools for observation and reporting.
By strengthening field data collection and communication, these tools enable more effective patrolling, facilitate the monitoring of tourism-species interactions, and provide a solid, data-driven framework to support SAMPA’s move towards IUCN Green Listing. This major upgrade of local capacity will ensure that conservation efforts are measurable and transparent, while supporting the livelihoods of local communities dependent on a healthy marine ecosystem.
The Maldives project contributes to the wider Tech4Nature partnership, a global initiative launched in 2020 jointly led by IUCN and Huawei under Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion programme. The Tech4Nature project, which is in line with the standard of the IUCN Green List of Protected and Preserved Areas, shows how technology can support effective and equitable nature conservation. The project was officially launched at the closing ceremony of the Maldives Protected and Preserved Areas Forum 2026, which was attended by senior officials.
The SAMPA project, which is Tech4Nature’s first initiative in the Maldives, is part of a wider global effort jointly led by IUCN and Huawei to expand the use of digital solutions in nature conservation. In the SAMPA area, the project aims to strengthen the balance between tourism and nature conservation by improving visitor management, stricter compliance and supporting science-based decision-making.
Throughout the duration of the project, a dedicated team of SAMPA guards will be equipped with the necessary monitoring and communication equipment to enhance local patrolling and surveillance. This will allow rangers to respond promptly to dangerous or inappropriate activity, increasing visitor safety and limiting harmful interactions with basking sharks. Enhanced monitoring will also increase overall compliance with protected area regulations and promote more sustainable tourism practices in line with SAMPA’s management and conservation goals.
“Effective conservation begins by equipping rangers with the necessary tools for ongoing field monitoring. This creates the necessary foundation for better ecosystem management and governance. This is a pragmatic first step to bridging the immediate operational gaps in implementing the IUCN Green List standard, which will ensure that SAMPA maintains its unique biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities that depend on it,” said Dr. Dindo Campilan, IUCN Regional Director for Asia and Center Director for Oceania.
Parallel to the implementation of the project in the field, SAMPA rangers will be trained on the IUCN Green List standard, a globally recognized benchmark for effective, equitable and well-managed protected and conserved areas. A baseline assessment of Green List sites will also be undertaken for SAMPA, providing a structured framework for identifying strengths, weaknesses and priority actions to improve governance.
“The government remains firmly committed to supporting nature conservation and strengthening institutional and administrative mechanisms for the management of protected and conserved areas. It is important that we all work together to achieve this goal, with a common vision and shared responsibility,” said Tourism and Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim.
“As the successful results of Tech4Nature projects since 2020 have shown, innovative technological solutions can contribute to a better understanding and mitigation of threats to the biodiversity of species and the ecosystems they inhabit, including underwater ones,” said Zhang Jinze, CEO of Huawei for Sri Lanka. “In addition to technology, a key approach of the Tech4Nature global partnership is also the involvement of local partners and communities in the planning and implementation of projects to ensure the long-term sustainability of solutions.”
The initiative has so far supported 11 flagship and satellite projects in various countries around the world, which bring digital solutions tailored to a wide range of challenges in the field of nature conservation, from coral reef monitoring to wildlife protection to ecosystem restoration.
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Huawei: Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. It employs approximately 208,000 people and operates in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people worldwide. Huawei strives to bring digital technology to every individual, household and organization to create a fully connected, intelligent world.
IUCN is a member union bringing together governmental institutions and non-governmental civil organizations. It leverages the experience, resources and reach of more than 1,500 member organizations and the contributions of more than 17,000 experts. The IUCN is the global authority on the state of nature and the measures necessary to protect it.
Ministry of Tourism and the Environment: The Ministry of Tourism and Environment is charged with overseeing the development and implementation of policies related to tourism, the environment, climate change, water management and sanitation, waste management, energy and climate change. Affiliated agencies of the ministry include the Environment Regulatory Authority, the Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Maldives Meteorological Service and the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Authority.
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