A Sweet Start to the Festive Season at Canareef Resort Maldives
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa recently celebrated Earth Day with a coral propagation program in partnership with K. Huraa School students. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability and marine conservation in the Maldives, as well as to empower the younger generation to make a positive impact on the environment.
The event began with an opening speech by the resort’s General Manager, Mohamed El Aghoury, who emphasized the critical role of sustainability in the future of the Maldives and the importance of engaging youth in environmental programs. The students then participated in an educational session led by the resort’s in-house marine biologist, where they learned about the significance of preserving marine life and the various ways in which they could contribute to conservation efforts.
After the awareness session, the students had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on coral planting activity. Under the guidance of experts from Reefscapers Maldives, the students planted coral fragments on metal frames covered in sand, providing a medium for the coral to grow and thrive. This event marked the planting of the 400th coral frame since the initiative was established in 2020, resulting in over 27,000 fragments being planted and growing beautifully around the resort’s underwater environment.
Mohamed El Aghoury, General Manager of Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, expressed his delight in providing a platform to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, stating that preserving the natural environment is a core value of the resort’s sustainability efforts. Additionally, he mentioned the resort’s commitment to other significant sustainability projects such as waste management, reducing single-use plastic, and eco-friendly energy sources. He encouraged the students to develop small habits to conserve energy and contribute to a greener planet.
Against the backdrop of the global pandemic, and with travellers increasingly aspiring to make a positive impact on the communities they visit whether locally or abroad, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa introduced “Adopt a Coral”, as part of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy, aiming to create opportunities for guests to forge firsthand connections with local communities and the environment during their stay, promoting both cultural understanding and positive change.
Adopt a Coral at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa invites guests to participate in the coral fragment plantation activity in an effort to promote reef habitats and generate new coral. The resort has teamed up with Reefscapers, a coral propagation organization appointed by the Maldivian Government as custodians of the coral colonies in the Gulhi Falhu lagoon which was slated to be destroyed as part of a reclamation project. The activity is led by experts and offers a hands-on experience to participants while also providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose sole previous source of employment was fishing.
