/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 critical field monitoring technology and real-time communication tools, the Tech4Nature project seeks to protect the iconic whale shark population, while balancing the socio-economic pressures of a premier tourism destination.
Photo: © Ishan @seefromthesky from Unsplash
As the largest marine protected area in the Maldives and a globally important annual aggregation site for the whale shark (Rhinocondon typus), SAMPA attracts thousands of visitors annually. Its vast extent and multiple access points represent a significant logistical challenge for traditional monitoring approaches. The Tech4Nature project addresses these shortcomings by providing rangers with a suite of digital observation and reporting equipment.
By strengthening data collection and communication on the ground, these tools enable more efficient patrols, facilitate monitoring of tourism-species interactions, and provide a robust data-driven framework to support SAMPA’s path to the IUCN Green List. This essential improvement in in situ capacity will ensure that conservation efforts are measurable and transparent, while supporting local livelihoods that depend on a healthy marine ecosystem.
The Maldives project contributes to the Tech4Nature alliance, a global initiative launched in 2020 and co-led by IUCN and Huawei under Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion programme. In line with the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Standard, Tech4Nature demonstrates how technology can drive effective and equitable conservation. The project was officially launched at the high-level closing ceremony of the Maldives Protected and Conserved Areas Forum 2026.
As Tech4Nature’s first initiative in the Maldives, the SAMPA project is part of broader global initiatives, co-led by IUCN and Huawei, to expand the use of digital solutions in nature conservation. In SAMPA, the project seeks to strengthen the balance between tourism and conservation by improving visitor management, regulatory compliance and supporting science-based decision making.
Throughout the project, SAMPA’s dedicated team of rangers will be provided with essential monitoring and communication equipment to strengthen on-site patrols and surveillance. This will allow rangers to respond promptly to unsafe or non-compliant activities, improve visitor safety, and reduce harmful interactions with whale sharks. Better monitoring will also increase overall compliance with protected area regulations and promote more sustainable tourism practices that align with SAMPA conservation and management objectives.
“Effective conservation begins by equipping rangers with essential tools for continuous field monitoring. This lays the necessary foundation for better ecosystem management and governance. It is a pragmatic first step in addressing immediate operational gaps, while applying the IUCN Green List Standard, ensuring that SAMPA conserves its unique biodiversity and the local livelihoods that depend on it,” said Dr Dindo Campilan, IUCN Regional Director for Asia and Director of the Centre. for Oceania.
In parallel with field implementation, the project will support the training of SAMPA rangers on the IUCN Green List Standard, the global benchmark for effective, equitable and well-managed protected and conserved areas. A baseline assessment of Green List sites will be conducted for SAMPA, which will provide a structured framework to identify strengths, gaps and priority actions for better management.
“The government remains, as always, committed to promoting conservation and strengthening institutional and governance 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 Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Tourism and Environment.
“As demonstrated by the successful results of Tech4Nature projects since 2020, innovative technological solutions can help better understand and mitigate threats to biodiversity and the ecosystems that inhabit it, including marine ecosystems,” said Zhang Jinze, CEO of Huawei Sri Lanka. “In addition to technology, a key focus of the Tech4Nature global alliance is the involvement of partners and local communities in the planning and implementation of the projects to ensure the sustainability of the solutions.”
To date, the initiative has supported 11 flagship and satellite projects in several countries around the world, offering tailored digital solutions for various conservation challenges, from coral reef monitoring to wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration.
About us:
Huawei:Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. It has approximately 208,000 employees and operates in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people worldwide. Huawei is committed to bringing digital technology to every person, home and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world.
IUCN is a membership union made up of government and civil society organizations. It leverages the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,500 member organizations and the input of more than 17,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the state of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.
Ministry of Tourism and Environment:The Ministry of Tourism and Environment is mandated to oversee the formulation and implementation of policies related to the tourism, environment, climate change, water and sanitation, waste management, energy and climate change sectors. Agencies affiliated to the Ministry include the Environment Regulatory Authority, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Maldives Meteorological Service and the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office.
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