Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2011, in Maldives. The Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve is in the central western Maldives in the Indian Ocean. The atoll lies just north of the Kashidhoo Kandhoo channel, which geographically divides the northern chain of atolls. It supports one of the largest groups of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and acts as a stepping stone for the transport of planktonic larvae of reef organisms from the western and eastern Indian Ocean. The reserve is home to globally significant biodiversity across its numerous reefs and demonstrates a long history of human interaction with the environment.