Compared to the rest of the Indo-Malayan region, the islands exhibit a relatively small proportion of representative fauna species, and the archipelago is not associated with an abundant terrestrial wildlife (Webb 1988). The Maldives Islands are relatively poor in terms of terrestrial floral diversity. The 1994 State of the Environment Report records 583 plant species in the Maldives, of which 55 percent are cultivated species. Over 30 plant species are recognized for their medicinal value and are utilized for traditional medicine practices. Timber and fuelwood needs are met by individual islands, except in special cases of boat-building for which uninhabited islands are visited to harvest appropriate timber. Each island has a plot reserved for the cultivation of fuelwood and timber species.
Marine biological diversity exhibits outstanding richness. The marine bio-diversity of the archipelago is among the richest in the entire region, and the Maldives has been recognized as having one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems. Tuna fishing is particularly important to the country's economy. Twenty fish species are regularly caught and used as bait fish.
Environmental management, including biodiversity conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of land, water and other natural resources, is relatively new to the Maldives. Problems stemming from both human and natural causes include the effects of coral and sand mining, waste disposal, human pollution, coastal erosion, rising sea level, unrestrained land development, and degradation of fresh water and land resources. Despite the importance of waste disposal and management, a system aimed at waste collection and its proper disposal is lacking.
