A meeting of the Baa Atoll Conservation Fund (BACF) Board was held on 8 March 2026, bringing together Board members to review ongoing programmes, the 2026 Workplan and Budget, the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve fee structure, and other matters relating to conservation and sustainable development in Baa Atoll.

Following deliberations, the Board approved a number of key decisions supporting the continued management and development of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.

The Board approved the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Workplan for 2026 and endorsed revisions to the existing Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Fee Structure, aimed at establishing a more structured and sustainable system to support the management and promotion of the Reserve.

The Board also approved revisions to the Hanifaru Marine Protected Area access permit rates, replacing the existing seasonal and off-season rates with a uniform rate applicable throughout the year and revisions to the Local and Commercial Videography and Photography Permit Fees were also approved.

Another key decision of the meeting was the approval of MVR 1,300,000.00 under the BACF 2026 Grants Programme for the supply of machinery and equipment to schools across Baa Atoll.

The decisions taken at the March 2026 Board meeting reaffirm the BACF’s role in providing financial and institutional support for the long-term conservation, education and sustainable development priorities of the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.