Biosphere Expeditions launch reef educational booklet for Maldivian children and scholarship programme for adults 

7 August 2011 (back to press release archive)

Renowned international conservation organisation Biosphere Expeditions together with its partners Six Senses Resorts & Spas and LaMer will launch a new reef educational booklet for Maldivian children (view a copy) on 3 September in Male’ and hand 2000 copies over to the Ministry of Education.

Biosphere Expeditions and Six Senses Resorts & Spas have also teamed up to create two scholarships for Maldivians to take part in Biosphere Expeditions’ coral reef & whale shark study being conducted in September 2011. The scholarship recipients will be introduced to the media during the 3 September Male’ press conference also.

Booklet cover page

Reef educational booklet cover page. View the entire booklet.

Dr. Matthias Hammer, biologist and Executive Director of Biosphere Expeditions, says “The coral reefs of the Maldives archipelago and the fish populations that live amongst them are extraordinarily diverse and rich. They are also in a relatively pristine state and having both these factors together is quite rare. As less than one per cent of the world’s oceans are protected, it is very important that we monitor and manage areas that are doing well. This is especially true for the Maldives, where the economy and well-being of an entire nation is largely dependent on a healthy & sustainably managed marine environment. We are delighted to be working with the Maldivian government, local children and adults to carry this message all over the Maldives through our educational booklets and scholarships. We are also very grateful to Six Senses Resorts & Spas for their investment and support in this project over four years.”

Kate Wilson, Six Senses marine biologist based at Soneva Fushi says “The educational story book has been designed to inspire the younger generation on the wealth of marine life of Maldivian reefs. The book explains how climate change and various other impacts are putting increasing pressure on these ecosystems –the aim is to inspire children to look after their reefs and understand a bit more about marine protected areas and how each and every one of us can reduce our impact. The scholarships will allow Maldivians to work alongside and learn from some top marine biologists, enabling them to get hands on experience of monitoring coral reef ecosystems in the Maldives. It is a fantastic opportunity for keen and enthusiastic divers that want to develop skills in marine surveying, enabling them to continue surveying long after the scholarship ends. Six Senses are thrilled to be working with Biosphere Expeditions who will be contributing vital data to the Maldives government on coral reef health”.


High-resolution images & contacts

High-resolution images, film clips and other media resources are at www.biosphere-expeditions.org/mediaarchive.

View copy of the reef educational booklet.

For further information on Biosphere Expeditions or this press release, please contact [email protected].

For further information on the Six Senses Soneva properties, please contact Sophy Williams on [email protected].

Also note press conference on 3 September 2011

Biosphere Expeditions and Six Senses will be holding a press conference on 3 September at 10:30 at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel, just before the Biosphere Expeditions team embarks on its first ground-breaking research expedition. Meet the international team of volunteers, the Maldivian scholarship recipients, the scientists behind the expedition and witness the official handing over of a reef educational booklet to the Maldivian government. The head of the Marine Research Centre and other dignitaries from the Ministries of Tourism, Youth & Sport, as well as Education are expected. Also present will be Dr. Matthias Hammer, Founder & Executive Director of Biosphere Expeditions. Media representatives are cordially invited to this event. RSVP [email protected]


Notes for editors

Biosphere Expeditions is a multi-award-winning not-for-profit wildlife conservation organisation offering hands-on volunteer expeditions as an adventure with a purpose for everyone. Biosphere Expeditions is for people from all walks of life who want to help support and conserve the biosphere that we all live in. Biosphere Expeditions gives people a way to harness their enthusiasm and put it to good effect by coming to work on conservation projects simply using the money and time that they would have spent going on an ordinary holiday.

Six Senses Resorts & Spas is a management and development company established in 1995, which manages resorts under the brand names Soneva, Six Senses and Evason, plus Six Senses Spas. Soneva Fushi, Soneva Gili and Six Senses Laamu are the Six Senses Maldivian properties.    


> back to press release archive