Mapping Blue Carbon Ecosystems in the Maldives: My Journey as an Early Career Ocean Professional

By Ahmed Shan

I am Ahmed Shan, an environmental scientist from the Maldives with a background in Remote Sensing and GIS. I hold a master’s degree in environmental science (Sensing and Spatial Data Science) from the University of Western Australia, and a bachelor’s degree in Surveying and Spatial Science from the University of Tasmania. My work focuses on applying geospatial technology to monitor and manage marine and coastal ecosystems in small island environments.

Photo 1: Ahmed Shan in Australia

Over the years, I have watched our coastlines shift and our ecosystems respond to pressures that are sometimes visible, and sometimes silent and slow. My academic background in Remote Sensing and GIS has always allowed me to look at these environments not only from the ground but also from above, using satellite data to understand the patterns and changes shaping our islands. So, when I learned about the IORA Blue Carbon Hub Early Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Program 2025, I recognized an opportunity that aligned deeply with both my technical skills and my passion for protecting the ecosystems that support life in the Maldives.

I was selected to undertake research focusing on the mapping and monitoring of seagrass ecosystems. Seagrass, though often overlooked, is one of the most important blue carbon habitats in our islands. It known to stabilize sediments, nurtures fish populations, and stores carbon at remarkable rates. Yet in many discussions, particularly in policy and planning, it has not always received the attention it deserves. This project allowed me to explore how satellite imagery and machine learning can be used to detect and monitor seagrass across different regions of the Maldives. It was both exciting and challenging to translate complex data into meaningful, usable knowledge that could support national conservation and climate resilience efforts.

Photo 2: Shan with the other Early Career Ocean Professionals (Left to right: Gavindya, Debarati and Munawaroh)

One of the achievements I am most proud of is developing the Maldives seagrass Monitoring (prototype) app, using the Google Earth Engine platform. This app utilizes a classification workflow that improved our ability to distinguish seagrass from other shallow marine environments like sand and coral. This required testing multiple spectral indices and refining machine learning models to fit the unique characteristics of our lagoons. It was slow, iterative work, and at times frustrating, because seagrass does not always reveal itself clearly from space. Water clarity, depth, and bottom type all influence how it appears in imagery. But through persistence and experimentation, I managed to produce preliminary seagrass maps that form a baseline for future ecosystem monitoring.

Figure 1: Showing the Maldives Seagrass Monitoring app.

The challenges were real and shaped the direction of my research. Seagrass varies significantly from one atoll to another, so a single model could not accurately represent the entire Maldives. I had to adapt my approach region by region, learning that flexibility is not a weakness in research, but a necessary part of working with complex natural environments. These challenges taught me patience, creativity, and the importance of designing methods that respect the diversity of local ecosystems rather than forcing them into simplified models.

Figure 2: Showing the seagrass trend analysis in the Maldives using the app.

Participating in the ECOP program in Perth was also a significant personal and professional experience. I worked alongside young scientists from across the Indian Ocean, each bringing their own perspectives and challenges. Field visits to mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows in Western Australia helped me see familiar ecosystems in new ways. Even though the landscapes were different, the ecological stories felt shared. The mentorship and discussions with researchers at the IORA Blue Carbon Hub and CSIRO helped me connect satellite monitoring not just to academic research but to policy, community well-being, and climate resilience. It reminded me that data alone is not enough; it needs to be communicated, understood, and supported to bring about meaningful action.

This journey has strengthened my commitment to advancing blue carbon research in the Maldives. I want to continue developing national-scale monitoring systems, support ecosystem accounting frameworks, and contribute to conservation strategies that are grounded in both science and local community knowledge. My hope is that this work will help ensure that seagrass and other blue carbon ecosystems are recognized for the vital roles they play—not only in climate resilience, but in the daily lives and futures of the people who call the Maldives home.