An environmental activist climbed a large banyan tree in Vilimale and lay across one of its branches in an attempt to stop municipal workers from cutting it down.
Ahmed Niyaz, founder of the Maldives Space Research Organisation, ascended the tree near the island’s water sports area after branches had already been severed. Photographs from the scene showed him positioned roughly 25 feet above the ground. Police officers later used equipment to reach him and negotiated his descent. He was not arrested.
Police said the work was being carried out in line with regulations and that officers assist when trees create public safety issues. The Male City Council has not issued a public statement specifying the exact reason for the operation on this particular tree.
The tree is one of two mature banyans in Vilimale that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu indicated would be removed after a show-of-hands vote during a community meeting with residents in November 2025. Some residents have long complained that the trees’ roots damage nearby houses, while opponents argue that protective measures could address the issue without felling the trees.
The president has previously said that 300 replacement trees would be planted across the island under the government’s five-million-tree programme. Similar concerns over tree removal in Vilimale have surfaced earlier this year, including an incident involving a banyan in a children’s park for which the council said it was seeking those responsible.
Niyaz is also associated with local agriculture initiatives. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Vilimale between development pressures and preservation of established greenery on the vehicle-free island.