Rasheed, Mohamed creator Schroder, Hans Chairperson Soegaard, Ragnar Examination Committee Zhuang, Ya-Hui Examination committee The World Health Organization Scholarship donor text series technical report th Bangkok Asian Institute of Technology 1992 continuing eng 112 p. This study was carried out to find the suitable options for environmental management in the Republic of Maldives. A literature survey was conducted to first understand, and later, to compare the developmental effects on the environment through the researchers' experience of living and working on these islands. No field data were collected due to limited readily available data in the Maldives . A qualitative analysis with the assistance of limited statistical data revealed that Maldives lacked natural resources, and the manpower needed for development as well as in the environmental protection . The study also showed that pollution due to development up to now have not exceeded the natural self cleansing capacity . But there is enough evidence that Maldives will not remain in her pristine condition for long if Maldives are to continue development with the "free- goods " attitude . Tourism has contributed greatly to the present environmental condition of Male', but the main causes for the deterioration are due to ignorance and the development bias towards Male' . Besides the above, the study also concluded that the quality of life was deteriorating for many in Male' and that socio-economic disparity between the people of Male' and the other islands were widening as well. Finally, the study recommends the implementation of marke t friendly policies to correct the socio-economic disparities and to reduce the burden of high population on Male ' . Environmental awareness creation, investing on manpower as well as introduction of regulations and legislation to protect the environment are further recommendations. Economic tools that work under market economy conditions have been recommended to assist in the governments ' efforts to further expand development activities within sustainable limits. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992 Environmental policy Maldives Asian Institute of Technology. http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B16547 http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B16547 170399 20260818100316.0