Developing Initial Land Use Plans for Inhabited Islands

To start, gathering existing data on land ownership, infrastructure, population, and current land use patterns. Key stakeholders, including community leaders, residents, environmental NGOs, tourism representatives, and relevant government agencies, will be identified and invited to participate in town-hall style meetings. These meetings will provide a platform for the council to present preliminary data, explain the purpose of land-use planning, and gather community input on their needs, concerns, and aspirations for future land use.

By using data collected, creating base maps for each island, incorporating community involvement through participatory mapping techniques will be initiated. Key features like beaches, wetlands, agricultural areas, infrastructure, and populated areas will be identified. Preliminary zoning classifications will be developed based on existing land use, environmental sensitivity, and community input. Draft land-use plans, including zoning maps, development guidelines, and environmental considerations, will be created for each island. Finally, a basic assessment of the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of these draft plans will be conducted.

Gather existing data on land ownership, infrastructure (roads, utilities), population demographics, and current land use patterns (residential, agriculture, tourism). Consider contacting the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, Department of Statistics Maldives, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for relevant data. Identify key stakeholders including community leaders, residents, environmental NGOs, tourism representatives, and relevant government agencies (e.g., fisheries, health). Organize town-hall style meetings on each inhabited island. Present preliminary data and explain the purpose of land-use planning. Facilitate discussions to understand community needs, concerns, and aspirations for future land use.

Develop a strategy outlining how the land-use plans will be implemented, including roles and responsibilities for different stakeholders. Establish a monitoring system to track progress and identify potential issues with the plans. Schedule regular reviews of the plans to ensure they remain relevant and adaptable to changing needs.