Tradenet has partnered up with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). 

This partnership was established to launch an initiative to develop an Environmental Data Management System (EDMS) for the Maldives. 

The EPA is a government agency, under the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, that is responsible for regulatory activities for protection, conservation and management of environment and biodiversity, as well as waste management and pollution prevention under the Environment Protection and Preservation Act (4/93). 

It is also one of our oneGov partner agencies that offer their services through the platform.

The JNCC is a public body from the UK that works locally and internationally on projects dealing with nature conservation. The organisation has been working with the Maldivian government on matters of marine conservation, enhancing the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Conservation-based Measures (OECM). 

As such, the EDMS project aims to centralise and streamline environmental data to address critical challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Understanding User Needs

This initiative is currently in its scoping phase. This phase focuses on identifying the needs of the diverse stakeholders who might need such a system. 

These include relevant government agencies, educational and research institutions, environmental organisations, private sector entities, and local communities. 

Tradenet and its partners are working together to ensure the EDMS is both effective and accessible. Our goal is to enable informed decision-making and improve public access to crucial environmental data.

Transforming Environmental Data Management

One of the longstanding issues that has limited our nation’s ability to respond effectively to environmental challenges has been fragmented environmental data. 

The EDMS project seeks to resolve this issue. The project plans to address the issue of fragmented data by carrying out the following:

• Creating a centralized platform for environmental data.

• Enhancing workflows and database features to meet the needs of various users.

• Identifying and mitigating technological barriers to ensure inclusivity.

Stakeholder Engagement

One of the most key components of this project will be stakeholder engagement. 

We plan to work with our partners to understand the requirements of our users and design a system that prioritizes data accessibility and fosters collaboration, while supporting evidence-based policy-making. 

This initiative also highlights the importance of uniting various sectors to achieve a sustainable future for the Maldives.

A Step Toward Sustainability

As the project progresses, feedback from stakeholders will play a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s development. 

This collaboration between Tradenet, EPA, and JNCC represents a significant step toward addressing environmental challenges and fostering resilience in the face of global issues like climate change.

We would like to thank the EPA and the JNCC for their knowledge, expertise, and close collaboration on this pivotal project that has the potential to benefit the nation for many years to come.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue our commitment to modernising environmental data management and supporting sustainable development in the Maldives!