Kerala’s donation of 600 teak and 600 mango saplings strengthens India-Maldives environmental partnership and supports President Muizzu’s ambitious national reforestation pledge amid climate challenges.

Kerala has handed over 1,200 carefully selected saplings to the Maldives as a tangible contribution to the island nation’s flagship Five Million Tree Project. The gift, comprising 600 teak plants and 600 grafted mango plants, was formally presented by Kerala’s Minister for Forests, Wildlife Protection and Skills Development, Shibu Baby John, to Maldives Consul General Aminath Shifana in Thiruvananthapuram. The saplings have been specially packed and are ready for transport, marking a practical step in bilateral cooperation on climate resilience and green cover.

The donation comes under the broader commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his July 2025 visit to the Maldives, when he assured support for the Five Million Tree Planting initiative. At the time, Modi and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu jointly planted saplings in Malé, linking India’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign with the Maldives’ national pledge.

Sourced from Kerala’s Best Nurseries

The mango saplings were raised at the College of Agriculture in Vellayani, known for producing high-quality grafted varieties suited to tropical conditions. The teak plants came from the Central Nursery at Kulathupuzha, a facility with a long track record of supplying hardy timber species. Both batches were prepared and packed at the district permanent nursery in Poojappura to ensure they survive the journey and establish well in the Maldives’ coral-island environment. Officials noted that the selection prioritises species that can contribute to both ecological restoration and practical benefits such as shade, soil stabilisation and, in the case of mango, eventual fruit production.

Kerala Minister Shibu Baby John expressed pride that the state could participate in an effort that deepens friendly ties between the two countries. Consul General Aminath Shifana described the gift as one of affection and said she was delighted to receive it on behalf of the Maldives.

Shibu Baby John said the partnership between Kerala and the Maldives offers a quiet example of how bilateral ties can translate into living, growing assets for climate resilience.

Maldives Accelerates Nursery Network

On the same day the Kerala donation made headlines, the Maldives government advanced another key pillar of the Five Million Tree Project. Environment Minister Ali Shareef oversaw the signing of agreements granting MVR 500,000 each to ten additional islands for the construction of local nurseries. The islands are HDh. Nolhivaran, K. Himmafushi, ADh. Dhidhdhoo, F. Dharanboodhoo, Dh. Meedhoo, L. Fonadhoo, L. Hithadhoo, GDh. Vaadhoo, Gn. Fuvahmulah and Addu Meedhoo.

This brings the total number of islands receiving nursery grants to 20. The first batch of 10 islands had already signed similar agreements. Each nursery is expected to produce around 50,000 trees annually and will serve as a regional hub supplying neighbouring islands. Construction must be completed within seven months of signing. The Maldives’ Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has emphasised that these facilities will form the backbone of sustained planting efforts and will be supported by training programmes for nursery staff.

A National Project Gaining Momentum

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu launched the Five Million Tree Project on World Environment Day, 5 June 2024, as a central pledge of his administration. The goal is to plant five million trees within five years, focusing on native species, coastal protection and community participation. Official figures show steady progress: by mid-2026 more than 1.6 million trees had already been planted, while public and private pledges had exceeded the original target, reaching nearly 5.9 million. Major contributors include state-owned enterprises and private companies that have committed hundreds of thousands of trees each.

The project prioritises species that strengthen coastal ecosystems against erosion and rising seas – threats that the low-lying Maldives faces acutely. Earlier phases included the distribution of teak saplings (some donated by Sri Lanka) to resorts, airports and inhabited islands, with the aim of establishing teak as a visible green landmark. Training, monitoring and the creation of local nurseries are designed to avoid the pitfalls of earlier, less sustained planting drives.

India-Maldives Green Partnership Deepens

Environmental cooperation has become a visible strand of the renewed India-Maldives relationship. Beyond the symbolic joint planting in 2025 and Kerala’s latest donation, India has previously supported the Maldives with coconut palms from Kerala to address shortages caused by disease. The current sapling gift continues that practical assistance while reinforcing political goodwill. For Kerala, the donation also showcases the state’s expertise in tropical forestry and horticulture and aligns with its own domestic green initiatives.

The Maldives, for its part, has welcomed external support while building domestic capacity. The new network of island nurseries will reduce dependence on external supplies over time and allow for the cultivation of species best suited to local soil and climate conditions. Officials stress that the project is not merely about numbers but about restoring native vegetation, engaging citizens and state-owned enterprises, and creating lasting green infrastructure.

Roots for Resilience

Once the Kerala saplings arrive, they will join thousands of others already in the ground or in local nurseries. Teak is valued for its durability and potential as a landmark species; mango offers both shade and the prospect of fruit in a nation that values agricultural self-reliance. Together with the expanding nursery network, the donation represents a small but concrete contribution to a much larger national effort.

Climate change remains an existential concern for the Maldives. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion and the need for greater green cover make large-scale tree planting both a practical and a symbolic necessity. Kerala’s 1,200 saplings, modest in the context of five million, carry the weight of friendship and shared environmental purpose.