St. Martin’s to be divided into 4 zones, includes ‘Restricted Zone’

A draft master plan proposes dividing St. Martin’s Island into four distinct zones to better manage tourism and conserve biodiversity.

The plan, prepared by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) under the Ministry of Water Resources, was presented at a workshop on Tuesday (January 6).

The proposed zones are:

General Use Zone: Open for tourism and other economic activities; hotels and resorts will fall under this zone.

Managed Resource Zone: Turtle breeding area; tourists can visit during the day, but overnight stays and use of natural resources by locals are prohibited.

Sustainable Use Zone: Includes bushland, lagoons, and mangrove forests; tourists allowed daytime access, while local resource use is regulated by the government. Overnight stays are prohibited.

Restricted Zone: No entry allowed to protect biodiversity.

The master plan focuses on ecosystem restoration, controlled tourism, protection of marine resources and livelihoods, and climate-resilient infrastructure. It also recommends solar power instead of generators and measures for rainwater harvesting.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, and Water Resources, said, “The government is prioritising the restoration of St. Martin’s lost biodiversity. The island and tourism are not synonymous. The closure of the island to tourists from February to October 2025 gave its ecosystem some relief.”

She added, “Conservation must be the top priority. Alternative livelihood opportunities for locals will be developed with support from the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Livestock.”