EPA Publishes Initial Findings of Mass Mangrove Die-off

The trees in the biggest Mangroves in the Maldives have died for unknown reasons since March 2020. In order to find out the scientific reason behind it, researches have been conducted by Environment Protection Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture. The research was done by exploring 7 islands that had the largest mass destruction alongside 2 where the event was not observed yet and taking samples from it. To get the sample results, it has been sent to India, to the Cochin University of Science and Technology. 
 
It has been indicated that the level of nutrients contained in water and soil differs from countries that observe the hot temperatures. It was also proven that tiny germs which are not seen to the naked eye have also not been detected. However, the samples have shown that a type of Fungus has been spotted which mainly kills the trees in the mangroves. In order to prove that the death is caused by the Fungus seen, the sample size is taken to be bigger and conduct research for a longer period of time.  
 
The team “CUSAT” which works alongside EPA would visit the islands to take more samples and do more research on them.  
 
Developing countries such as the Maldives, experience natural environmental changes which are not related to the death of the mangroves. Environmental problems take time and it never has a single solution.