CNN
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If you’ve ever been attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes while trying to relax on a scenic hike or a peaceful beach, you’re probably keenly aware that even the smallest pests can have a big impact on your vacation. .
But more than just a nuisance, mosquitoes can pose more serious health risks as vectors of diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika. Soneva FushiResorts on the private island of Kunfunadu in the Maldives have spent years trying to get rid of these pests.
The most effective solution they found led to a dramatic reduction in mosquito populations, revitalizing the island’s tropical plants and animals in the process.
Soneva partners with Germany-based company Biogenthas developed a mosquito trap that uses an environmentally friendly attractant.
“We were looking at ways to manage mosquitoes without using chemicals,” said Arnfin Oins, director of social and environmental awareness at Soneva.
The region has been battling a mosquito problem for years, but it gets worse during the monsoon season, which runs from May to November.
Several of the methods they tried, including the use of various traps and efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, each brought their own challenges.
Other approaches to combating flying pests include methods such as “hot fogging or fogging,” Oines said, but they are not accurate in that they target only bugs with insecticides and can be unpleasant for guests and hosts. There are cases where He said he tried to use these techniques carefully, but they inevitably caused annoyance to guests.
Provided by: Soneva Fushi
Biogents mosquito repellent at Soneva Fushi
Additionally, these techniques are typically only useful for controlling adult mosquitoes. And after a while, Oins said, even they develop resistance and the chemicals become ineffective.
However, it is to the benefit of other insects on Kunfunadu Island that they do not develop resistance. As a result, populations of butterflies, dragonflies, bumblebees, and beetles have declined significantly.
Soneva first adopted the Biogents system in 2019, using two types of traps with a total of more than 500 placed around the island. Oins said the first type, called BG-GAT, is a passive trap that targets tiger mosquitoes that have already bitten people and are looking for a place to lay their eggs.
The second type, BG-Mosquitaire CO2, uses carbon dioxide produced by fermentation of yeast and sugar, and lactic acid to mimic human skin, with the goal of attracting blood-seeking mosquitoes.
“BG-Mosquitaire CO2 is unique and effective in that it uses CO2 and sweat odor to simulate humans,” he said. Essentially, the device smells and “breathes” just like humans do, attracting and containing insects. For the first few weeks, the traps were catching thousands of mosquitoes every day.
In addition to using traps, the resort educated staff about mosquito biology. Soneva’s team is currently inspecting the property to identify and reduce tarps, fallen coconut shells, and other items that may collect standing water, which the insects need to breed.
Sandro Brücklemeyer/Courtesy of Soneva Fushi
Soneva Fushi Overwater Bungalow
Soneva said the pest control program has been successful.
The resort announced that in the first year, the number of mosquitoes on the island had decreased by more than 98%.
“We counted the mosquitoes we caught every day, and it certainly got easier to count as the numbers went down,” Oines says. “We have received many positive comments from repeat customers who come back year after year and notice a difference.”
The Biogents trap system has proven to be highly effective over long periods of time, and there is no need to worry about bugs developing resistance to this method. Even better news is that the Maldives’ native insects are thriving again since the chemicals were phased out.
“These natural pollinators are now back in abundance, which means we have more flowers, more fruit, and more produce,” Oines said, adding that fruits and insects He added that an increase in the number of birds means an increase in the number of birds visiting the Kunfunadu coast, where fireflies once lived. It was discovered again at night. ”
The promotion of biodiversity and the environmentally friendly and sustainable methods used to get there make sense considering the resort’s roots. Soneva Fushi was founded in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Shivdasani with a pioneering commitment to environmental sustainability. The couple’s vision led them to be early adopters of recycling, energy conservation, and waste reduction initiatives in the area.
Today, Soneva Fushi is an example of sustainable luxury in the world of hospitality, with a commitment to the environment that emphasizes pest control without the use of harmful chemicals, as well as a zero-waste philosophy and an innovative coral restoration program. doing.
By working with Biogent and using environmentally friendly mosquito control methods, Soneva aims to become the first mosquito-free island in the Maldives. But they don’t want to be the only ones.
The resort chain donated mosquito repellents to the parliament in the capital, Male, and trained staff on how to use them.
The brand’s resort, Soneva Jani, on Medhufaru Island in nearby Noonu Atoll, also installed the Biogents system with similar results. They set up traps at Soneva Secret, a new resort development scheduled to open in early 2024, and recorded zero mosquitoes for several months.
“This gives us hope that we will be able to open mosquito-free resorts in the new year,” Oines says. “We have seen other resorts follow suit. It would be great if all Maldives could do the same.”