“Growing” Low Cost Engineered Barrier Reefs for Coastal Protection and Beach Restoration & Erosion Control

Coral reefs protect against natural hazards by reducing wave energy by an average of 97%. Reef crests alone dissipate up to 86% of this energy. Mineral Accretion Technology, which is more than 40 years old, can be used to grow protective barrier reefs using pre-fabricated steel structures and low-voltage electricity (similar to that used for charging mobile phones) to grow CaCO3 (limestone) using minerals dissolved in seawater.

Keynote Speech

In this keynote speech, Mr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan, Minister of Environment, Maldives welcomed the delegates of the Resilient Atoll Nations in Productive Oceans conference and shared his perspective on the importance of developing climate resilience in developing atoll nations, especially in the midst of climate change.

Risks to Resilience

This presentation discussed the climate risks and water security issues in the Maldives. It also outlined the direction that the government is taking to enhance coastal resilience, tourism adaptation, coral rehabilitation, and human health.​