Nasheed’s plea: Villimale’ banyan tree holds 100 years of history, don’t cut it down

The government has decided to remove two large banyan trees (nikagas) from Villimale’, citing structural damage caused by their roots and branches.

One tree stands near the police station, while the other is located near the water sports beach, where residents say nearby homes are being affected.  

During a community meeting on Monday evening, a resident urged President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to address the issue. In response, the President invited those in favor of removal to raise their hands. When the majority did so, he declared, “So, it passed almost unanimously,” and confirmed that the work would proceed.  

Former President Mohamed Nasheed, now Secretary General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, responded with a post on X on Wednesday, urging the government to reconsider. He highlighted the historical significance of the tree near the beach, noting that it was already large during the reign of King Shamsuddin (1902 - 1934).  

Nasheed added that political prisoners once rested under the tree during the era of the Villingili jail. The prison was built on 17 April 1962 during President Ibrahim Nasir’s tenure, but the island had previously been used to isolate figures such as King Shamsuddin and religious scholar Sheikh Abdul Rahman Haji.  

“History that goes back a hundred years! Don’t cut down this tree!” Nasheed wrote.  

The President has emphasized that cutting down trees is not government policy, but exceptions may be made when human life is disrupted. He said the Environment Ministry has been instructed to plant at least 300 trees across Villimale’ to compensate for the removal.  

The decision has sparked concern on social media, with many echoing Nasheed’s call to preserve the island’s natural and historical heritage.