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Soneva Jani’s conservation area on Medhufaru includes reef, beach, mangrove and wetland habitats

Soneva Jani has been formally recognized by the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy as an Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measure call OECM),  becoming the first resort in the Maldives to receive the designation. The recognition places Soneva Jani at the forefront of the Maldives efforts towards its 30×30 conservation target, under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international commitment to conserve 30 percent of the world land freshwater and ocean areas by 2030.

OECMs are areas outside formally designated protected areas that are governed and managed to achieve sustained, long-term biodiversity conservation outcomes.

The OECM designation covers 0.41 square k.m on the eastern side of Medhufaru island in Noonu Atoll. The area includes reef, beach, mangrove and wetland habitats. the area is home to several threatened marine, avian and botanical species and serves as a significant nesting site for critically endangered Hawksbill turtles and Green turtles. the mangrove and wetland ecosystems also provide important environmental benefits, including shoreline protection, carbon storage, water regulation and habitat connectivity.

The designation follows a year of extensive ecological surveys, monitoring, mapping and documentation led by Soneva Conservation & Sustainability Maldives, with support from the Waitt Foundation and operational collaboration from the Soneva Jani team.

OECM recognition comes with a long-term commitment to maintain conservation efforts at the site. the status will be reviewed after five years, while annual monitoring and reporting will be conducted.

Soneva CEO Neil Gallagher said the recognition demonstrates that conservation and hospitality do not have to be competing priorities.

“This recognition for Soneva Jani says otherwise. It shows that the relationship can be symbiotic, when the work backing the effort is real and sustained,” Gallagher said.

Dr Johanna Leonhardt, Director of Operations at Soneva Conservation and Sustainability Maldives, said conservation in the Maldives must be supported by measurable results rather than existing only on paper.

She said the recognition reflects the company’s commitment to demonstrating that the area’s management is delivering real and sustained biodiversity benefits year after year.

Leonhardt added that the long term achievement would be maintaining the required standard and demonstrating how tourism can strengthen conservation outcomes across the Maldives.

Soneva said the recognition demonstrates how tourism can contribute to funding and sustaining long-term conservation rather than competing with environmental protection.

The company described the designation as a milestone for the luxury hospitality industry and a potential example for other tourism operators seeking to integrate biodiversity conservation into resort management. founded in 1995, Soneva operates three resorts in the Maldives Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret.

Soneva Fushi is located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, while Soneva Jani is located in Noonu Atoll. Soneva Secret is situated in the remote Makunudhoo Atoll.