July 2025: Gili Lankanfushi, the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury in the Maldives, is proud to share details of the island’s seagrass preservation initiative. These efforts to protect the ‘lungs of the sea’ are an integral part of Gili’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and conservation and were recently recognised at the Maldives’ prestigious Seagrass Industry Leaders Circle launch event, where the island shared an official conservation pledge.
“Here at Gili Lankanfushi, we remain fully committed to preserving our marine ecosystems,” commented Gili’s resident Marine Biologist and Sustainability Manager, Renald Yude. “Seagrass plays a vital role in carbon capture, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening coastal resilience. We firmly believe that we must all play our part to protect and restore this critical habitat – that’s why we’ve now pledged to conserve 1,250m2 of seagrass within our resort lagoon, representing over 80% of the total seagrass cover.”
Seagrass Conservation at Gili Lankanfushi
Gili Lankanfushi is an industry leader when it comes to seagrass conservation in the Maldives. The island’s marine biologists recognise the crucial role played by seagrass meadows in the local ecosystem, from carbon sequestration (seagrass meadows capture and store carbon dioxide up to 35 times more efficiently than tropical rainforests) to creating biodiversity hotspots (these areas serve as nurseries and safe habitats for marine species such as turtles, rays, seahorses, and juvenile reef fish). In addition, the plants’ root systems are integral for coastal protection, stabilising sediments and preventing beach erosion, protecting both the reef and the shoreline.
Led by resident Marine Biologist and Sustainability Manager Renald Yude, the team at Gili regularly monitors the health and growth of the lagoon’s seagrass using standardised quadrat-based surveys, ensuring a data-driven approach to conservation. Monitoring includes:
- Canopy height, to assess light exposure and growth
- Algal cover, to detect competition and potential
- Sediment type, to understand the seabed structure and changes
- Species composition, to document biodiversity and meadow health
- Wildlife sightings, including fish, invertebrates, and migratory species that depend on seagrass beds for shelter and food
2025 Seagrass Industry Leaders Circle Launch Event
In a landmark moment for marine conservation in the Maldives, Gili Lankanfushi proudly participated in the official Seagrass Industry Leaders Circle launch event, held on Dhiffushi Island on Kaafu Atoll. This collaborative gathering brought together representatives from 17 leading resorts, each pledging to protect and conserve seagrass meadows — a critical yet often underappreciated part of the Maldives’ marine ecosystem.
At the conference in early July 2025, Gili Lankanfushi announced its official pledge to conserve 1,250 m2 of seagrass within its resort lagoon — a bold commitment that represents over 80% of the total seagrass cover in the area.
“At Gili Lankanfushi, we believe that true luxury is rooted in responsibility”, added Yude. “Preserving seagrass is not just about protecting one plant — it’s about protecting an entire ecosystem, supporting marine life, improving reef health, and playing a part in global climate action.”
The event featured a pledge signing ceremony and a series of interactive workshops focused on increasing awareness of seagrass conservation. Discussions covered the ecological importance of seagrass meadows, their role in supporting marine biodiversity, and how resorts can take practical steps to safeguard these underwater habitats.
Organised by Maldives Resilient Reefs and the Blue Marine Foundation, the event was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Maldives.
Sustainability at Gili Lankanfushi
Sustainability is at the heart of Gili Lankanfushi’s vision, with an emphasis on preserving the natural environment, protecting the fragile marine ecosystem and leaving only footprints behind. Conservation is taken seriously by the island’s dedicated marine biology team who monitor the health and biodiversity of the surrounding coral reef ecosystems, measuring light intensity and sea surface temperature, identifying and tracking manta ray and turtle populations, removing invasive Crown of Thorns starfish, and educating guests about the underwater world through lectures and guided snorkelling trips.
Gili Lankanfushi’s Coral Lines project provides a nursery environment for new corals to grow, bolstering the house reef and monitoring health and survival types across coral genotypes. Guests have the opportunity to participate in the famed conservation project, where they can learn about coral reef restoration and rehabilitation, visit the nursing coral on ropes and even adopt a coral.
All buildings at Gili are constructed using sustainably sourced plantation teak, palm wood and bamboo, in addition to recycled telegraph poles. All rooms provide organic toiletries in refillable earthenware containers, to minimise plastic use and wastage, while the island’s dedicated desalinisation plant is used to provide glass bottles of still and sparkling water for all guests.
Further sustainability initiatives include:
- Working hand-in-hand with the Manta Trust to protect Manta Rays, and the Olive Ridley Project to rescue injured sea turtles.
- Reducing plastic usage whenever possible with recycling initiatives to rid the oceans of single-use plastics from neighbouring islands.
- Using sustainable methods for all fish caught and purchased from local islands.
- Providing sustainable Living Training for all staff.
Gili Lankanfushi enjoys an unspoilt island location in the Maldives’ North Malé Atoll, just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé airport. Perfectly suited for couples, families, solo travellers and groups alike, the resort combines rustic eco-design, unparalleled service and stunning natural scenery with a laid-back-luxury, ‘no news, no shoes’ philosophy.
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About Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
This award-winning eco-resort comprises 45 sumptuous overwater villas, including seven Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve, one of the most exclusive and largest overwater villas in the world. Following the 2019 refurbishment, gazing out at the crystal-clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean from this private island has never been so luxurious. All categories of villas and residences come with a dedicated Mr/s Friday butler service, catering for guests every need. Rustic eco-design, unparalleled service, stunning natural surroundings and a laid-back luxury ‘no news, no shoes’ philosophy have guests returning for more of this sustainable paradise. Gili Lankanfushi has a hard-to-rival location: an unspoiled island in a large lagoon in the North Malé atoll, which is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé. This iconic Maldivian island is perfectly suited for couples, families, solo travellers and groups who are bound to “arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family,” per the Gili philosophy.
For more information, please visit www.gililankanfushi.com
