Adaptations by SIDS and Sustainable Land Management The case of Mauritius

1. Adaptations by SIDS and Sustainable Land Management The case of Mauritius Presented by Mr. S.A. Paupiah Project Manager UNDP/GEF/FAO/GoM funded Project on Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management in Mauritius

2. Geography and location Population: 1.2 million Population density: 600/KM2(Approx) Climate: Tropical Winter (May- Nov) Summer (Nov- May) Mean Annual temperature: Avg maximum 31ºc Avg minimum 14ºc Rainfall: Average annual rainfall 2100mm/year

3. Land Use in Mauritius Land Area: 2040 km2 (incl. Rodrigues, offshore islets & the Outer Islands Land Use: Agriculture (Mainly Sugar Cane, Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers):46% Forests –Native and Planted (31%); Built upon or unusable (23%)

4. Types of Disasters (Hydro-meteorological in Character) • Drought Already occur to some • Torrential rains extent • Floods • Landslides Further exacerbation by climate change • Cyclones

5. Sectors at risk • Coastal Human Settlements • Natural Ecosystems (mangroves, reefs and wetlands) • Water (availability and quality) • Health • Agriculture • Tourism • Fisheries (livelihood of coastal communities at risk e.g. Fisherman folk)

6. Impact on Land Resources Droughts • More bush fire incidents during dry spells • Loss of vegetal cover • Exposed friable soil • Heavy sheet erosion during torrential rains

10. Torrential Rains ( heavy rainfall over a few days- equivalent to a whole season precipitation) • Sheet and gully erosion • Loss of fertile topsoil • Heavy leaching of nutrients • Siltation of dams and lagoons • Damage to drainage systems • Landslides in mountainous zones • Damage to road infrastructure

13. Cyclones/floods/Landslides • Longer periods of water stagnation • Damage to property in low lying areas • Risk of disease (Mosquito – Chikungunya) • Failure of sewerage systems and waste water disposal • Contamination of drinking water • Loss of cash crops (vegetables/flowers) • Storm surges exacerbate beach erosion and damage protective structures • Loss of coastal infrastructure, fishermen folk livelihood

17. Adaptation in Coastal Zones • Design guidance for coastal development (residential, Commercial, Industrial and Resorts) • Set-back policy ( no development within 30 metres from the HWM • Studies on design of buildings to cope with flooding and sea level rise • Relocation of Mooring sites for fishermen’s boats and pleasure crafts • Plantation of mangroves • reafforestation of beaches • Sand dune binders • Monitoring of coral bleaching • Banning of sand mining in lagoons

19. In Forest Lands • Re-afforestation of bare hill slopes • Re-afforestation of catchment areas with fire and drought resistant endemic /Indigenous sp. • Promoting tree planting on private lands through incentives to private sector • Capacity building in fire control and fire fighting (GEF funded MSP) • Fire-fighting equipments and infrastructutre • Controlled burning in grass lands

22. Agricultural Sector • Promote early warning system for extreme weather events • Research on drought resistant cultivars • Cyclone-proof livestock sheds • Breeding livestock adapted to higher temperature • Trash blanketing • Growing vegetables & flowers in cyclone-proof greenhouses

23. Built-up Areas Mainstreaming SLM guidelines in urban planning and regulations Developing guidelines for residential development in mountainous areas Master-plan for drainage systems and sewerage systems

24. Other measures • Setting up of land information systems • Mapping of degraded land and vulnerable sites • Development of monitoring and evaluation systems • Planning of alternate land uses on vulnarable sites e.g abandoned sugar cane lands on steep hill slopes • Mainstreaming SLM concerns into national and sectoral policies,legislations,strategiesand plans

25. THANK YOU