GEF - National Dialogue Initiative National priorities and their linkages with GEF priorities

1. GEF - National Dialogue InitiativeNational priorities and their linkages with GEF priorities BY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & NDU

2. AREAS OF CONCERN • Land Resources • Air Quality • Water Resources • Coastal Zone • Biodiversity • Solid Wastes • Environment & Health & Technology

3. National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP II) • prepared for the Government of Mauritius in 1999. • Implementation of the programmes started in 2000 • Projects identified is completely financed by the Government of Mauritius • The NES is being updated and implementation of NEAP II is being reviewed

4. EIP 2( 2000 ~ 2010 ) ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT ~ 650 MILLION RUPEES SECTION A COMPLETED ( 9 ) • Legislative Reform • Develop Environmental Indicators • Strengthenpolicy and strategic land planningat the central level • Islet recovery and restoration • National pest control strategy • Assisting planning in tourism zones, using site specific carrying capacity studies where appropriate • Assist in the development of a Local Plan for Rodrigues • Upgrade existing dump site • Improvement to waste collection and storage

5. SECTION B UNDER IMPLEMENTATION (37) • EIP Management Activities • Policy Development • Environmental Assessment • Develop Standards and Quality Objectives • Environmental Hotspots • Environmental Information System • NEL Capacity Building and Accreditation • Education and Awareness Training • Review land planning policies and enact planning legislation • Strengthen detailed planning and enforcement at the local level • Continue development of a land information system and demarcate sensitive areas • Institutional / legislative reform • Set up mobile air quality monitoring unit • Air quality monitoring system in Port Louis • Community involvement programme • Species recovery • Management of Black River National Park • Consolidate established marine parks and assess need for more reserves • Geomorphological shoreline analysis • Mapping using existing CASI imagery • Comprehensive monitoring programme • Institutional and legal review of Solid Waste Management • Make decision on long term final disposal, build consensus and undertake feasibility study and detailed design • Resource recovery and waste stream reduction • Management information system • Improve the links between tourism and the community and providing further recreation facilities for the public • Train pesticide users • Vehicle Emission Improvement

6. SECTION C BEING INITIATED (14) • Institutional Strengthening • Demarcating and Protecting Environmentally Sensitive AreasPublic Information Centre • Carry out an institutional review of land planning and implement its recommendations • Institutional reform • Water demand monitoring programme • Water resources monitoring programme • Ecological surveys • Establish a framework for ICZM • Establish the Mauritius Centre for Cleaner Production • Strengthen Control of the small-scale sector (including bungalows, guest houses, restaurants etc) • Invest in improvements in water resources • Improve wastewater management • Establish a marine reserve

7. SECTION D IN ABEYANCE (10) • Industrial Licensing and IPPC • Co-ordinate sectoral programmes • Institutional/legislative reform • Set up a revolving fund for industrial management • Plan future industrial development • Improve Public Involvement (Rodrigues ) • Complete cadastral survey(Rodrigues ) • Strengthen resources for local planning(Rodrigues ) • Cost Recovery Charges (Ministry of Public Utilities )

8. ISSUES

9. Environmental Policy • Reconciling Economic Growth with Environmental Quality Control of Pollution Promotion of Clean Technology Education & Public Awareness Conservation of Resources Protecting Local & Global Environment

10. NEW ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY(NEP) The NEP identifies the following key environmental concerns: land resources - degraded by development pressures Water resourcemanagement - avoid water stress conditions Air quality - emissions from fossil fuels ambient noise - traffic congestion and industrial pollution Biodiversity- threatened by direct exploitation the resources, introduction of invasive alien species. coastal zone - beach erosion, loss of wetlands and coastal water pollution, Solid waste management - limited treatment and disposal facility Public health - threatened by environmental risks e.g. vector-borne diseases, improper use of pesticides and herbicides, etc

11. CONVENTIONS Mauritius is a signatory to a number of international conventions concerning the environment : • Convention On Biological Diversity 1992 • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) • Convention On The Protection Of The Ozone Layer (Vienna) 1985 And Protocol On Substances That Deplete The Ozone Layer (Montreal) 1987 • Convention On The Prevention Of Pollution From Ships As 1973, As Modified By The Protocol Of 1978 (Marpol) • Convention On Wetlands Of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) 1971 • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

12. GEF funded projects • Adapting Coastal Zone Management to Address the Impacts of Climate Change: A demonstration for SIDS. • Removal of Barriers to Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation in Buildings in Mauritius • Preparation of Second National Communication under the UNFCCC • Support for the implementation of the National Bio-safety Framework (NBF) • Building Capacity for Effective Participation in the Bio-safety Clearing House (BCH). • Establishing a network of Private Protected Area • Partnerships for Marine Protected Areas in Mauritius and Rodrigues • Strengthening Capacity to Implement Global Environment Conventions in Coastal Development in Mauritius (NCSA follow-up) • Sustainable Management of POPs in Mauritius. • Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management for Mauritius • Addressing Land-Based Activities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-LaB) • Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Project (SWIOFP)-M/fisheries

13. GEF priorities CBD Biosafety Protected Area Network Marine Protected Areas in Mauritius (MPA)and Rodrigues Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes/Seascapes National priorities (i) CBD To complete the Islet Management Plan phase II) Elaboration and formulation of projects under National Biodiversity Strategy And Action Plan(NBSAP) Linkages between national priorities and GEF priorities

14. GEF priorities (ii) Climate Change Energy-efficient buildings and appliances On-Grid Renewable Energy facilitate GHG reduction through market transformation National priorities (ii) Climate Change Rehabilitation of degraded beach Using clean technologies in all sectors

15. GEF priorities (iii) ozone To guide in Phasing out of ozone-depleting substances National priorities (iii) ozone 700 kg of Methyl Bromide to be eliminated(financed under TPMP) Cracking down illegal trade in CFCs Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) phase-out to be accelerated

16. GEF priorities (iv) POPs Sustainable Management of POPs in Mauritius. National priorities (iv) POPs to protect human health and the environment from POPs

17. Results and Achievements (i) CBD • Construction of release cages for Pink Pigeon • Construction of 4.9 ha CMAs • Construction of the Bird Breeding Centre • Islet Management Plan (phase I ) prepared • Two marine parks and six fishing reserves have been proclaimed • Indicators in relation to biodiversity have been identified. E.g. Loss of wetlands, Land use changes (Mauritius and Rodrigues), Ratio of endangered / threatened species to total species of flora and fauna etc. • NBSAP has been prepared and a series of project has to be implemented • Climate Change • Agricultural Sector - Reafforestation programme, Plantation of mangroves, Monitoring of coral reefs • Energy Sector-raise awareness of industries on energy consumption

18. Results and Achievements • Transport Sector- Use of LPG in cars, reduction of sulphur content in diesel, Introduction of unleaded gassoline • Creation of Green Belt -Provision for green spaces has been included in the outline Scheme and in permits (EIA licences, morcellement permits ) • Use of renewable energy- Solar water heaters,Solar Photovoltaic,Electricity generation from coal and bagasse (iii) Ozone - phased out the use of CFCs (iv)POP-NIP for pops under the Stockholm Convention completed and implementation initiated,POP chemicals are prohibited under DCCA.

19. Constraints or Challenges • FUNDING • NEED CAPACITY BUILDING / TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROJECT FORMULATION & ELABORATION

20. Lessons learnt • Strategies need to be developed in consensus with stake holders. • Ensure financial sustainability of projects. • Ensure active participation of stake holders. • There are many emerging environmental issues and action need to be taken urgently to protect the environment

21. Conclusion and Recommendations • Several projects are being implemented at the Government level and are reflected in the MTEF –programme Based Indicators • GEF support is required for elaboration and implementation of projects under different conventions • Establishment of funding mechanisms under each convention.

22. THANK YOU