Strengthening Marine Ecosystems: The Case of Mauritius

The Nairobi Convention serves as a regional platform to address the challenges facing coastal and marine ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) through collective interventions, dialogue, and partnerships. Contracting Parties, including Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion (France), and Seychelles, collaborate on national and regional actions to mitigate environmental stresses, aiming for both socio-economic and global environmental benefits. Contracting Parties agreed on national and regional actions to mitigate environmental stresses, including implementing the WIO Strategic Action Programme (WIOSAP) to protect the region from land-based pollution.   

This GEF-funded WIOSAP project aimed to reduce impacts from land-based sources and activities and sustainably manage critical marine and coastal-riverine ecosystems by implementing priority initiatives in collaboration with national and regional partners. These collaborative actions contribute to a thriving Western Indian Ocean Region. The Nairobi Convention through WIOSAP supported Mauritius in its efforts toward sustainable development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, marine conservation, and ecosystem restoration. This support focused on the following flagship initiatives:  

Mauritius is home to diverse coastal habitats critical in blue carbon storage. Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and salt marshes absorb and store carbon dioxide, regulate climate, provide coastal protection, harbor rich biodiversity, and support conservation efforts. The government of Mauritius is actively involved in initiatives such as mangrove reforestation, the establishment of marine protected areas, public awareness campaigns, and international collaborations to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems.   

Seagrass meadows are a crucial natural carbon sink due to their ability to store significant amounts of organic carbon in their sediments, aiding in climate change mitigation. Countries in the WIO region have acknowledged the significance of blue carbon as most of them have included blue carbon in their 2nd generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  Mauritius launched a two-year project supported by the Nairobi Convention Secretariat´s WIOSAP project, which was funded by the Global Environment Facility.  

The main pressure on seagrass comes from sea activities and coastal development. Seagrass beds have been removed to create more attractive lagoons for tourists. Their distribution has been shrinking due to coastal development. Overfishing and human activities also harm seagrass beds through physical damage and pollution. 

The WIOSAP  project aimed to determine the status of seagrass in Mauritius, assess its carbon sink potential, and develop strategies for conservation and generating blue carbon credits. The project involved surveys on seagrass density and distribution, the establishment of permanent monitoring stations, sediment coring to determine carbon storage, analysis of carbon sequestration content, and a national campaign on seagrass conservation. Mapping, ground truthing, and monitoring were conducted at specific sites around the island to gather data for the project.   

The seagrass mapping supported Mauritius’s national Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) process, leading to the inclusion of seagrass protection in the 2023 Fisheries Act. A detailed map showing seagrass distribution and diversity in Mauritius’s lagoons was created, along with long-term monitoring of seagrass health. The Blue Carbon initiative aims to assess carbon storage and develop trading opportunities. Additionally, a national blue carbon task force was established to promote collaboration on nature-based solutions and funding opportunities. Mauritius is committed to preserving seagrass for sustainable development and environmental protection. 

In Mauritius, coral reefs play a critical role in the socio-economic development of the island whereby healthy coral reefs significantly contribute to coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism industries and for the preservation of biodiversity.  Despite their importance, the reefs of Mauritius, like other reefs worldwide, are being impacted by climate change and other anthropogenic and natural disturbances.  

Over the decade, the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) have successfully created techniques for coral cultivation for conservation purposes. In 2017, MOI began a community coral cultivation project in Mauritius, which focused on training coastal communities, including fishermen, in coral cultivation and reef rehabilitation. The project aligned with the government’s push to promote coral cultivation as an alternative livelihood.   

The Nairobi Convention through the GEF funded WIOSAP project partnered with MOI to help mitigate climate impacts on coastal communities through coral restoration, training, and raising environmental awareness.  The community-based coral culture project was initiated in 2020 to train coastal communities in coral culture and reef rehabilitation techniques, aligning with the government’s goal of promoting coral culture as an alternative livelihood.   

The project aimed to establish sea-based demonstration farms dedicated to cultivating resilient corals, thereby facilitating the restoration of damaged reef ecosystems. Additionally, it focused on equipping local communities and stakeholders with training in coral farming and reef rehabilitation, thereby imparting valuable skills. The initiative sought to enhance awareness regarding the significance of coral ecosystems and their conservation, while also addressing the impacts of climate change on coastal regions through coral restoration activities. 

The results included the establishment of multi-layered rope nurseries at designated sites, leading to the restoration of 1,050 square meters of degraded reefs utilizing coral fragments. A total of sixty-one eco-guide trainees were enrolled across the project locations, thereby enriching local expertise concerning coral ecosystems. The Government of Mauritius is committed to supporting climate change initiatives, with plans to potentially restore 250 coral gardens. 

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is a hotspot of biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine; However, the region is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts. The combination of high biodiversity and increasing threat makes the WIO an important focus for conservation. The social and economic situation of Mauritius has been assessed in the Ecosystems Profile. The project site, Grand Port District (in which Ile aux Aigrettes lies) is a coastal region, with low levels of development, although there is some major infrastructure (e.g. airport) and projects in the pipeline (e.g. Smart Cities).  

The local population is mainly employed in fishing and agriculture, and there are pockets of poverty and associated social ills. One of the major threats to islands in the WIO is invasive species. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are species introduced outside their native range by human action that consequently have negative impacts on the environment and can have devastating impacts on native biodiversity, such as birds, through direct predation and habitat disturbance.   

This project aimed to enhance ecosystem restoration on Ile aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve and its surroundings, promoting seabird-friendly habitat and colony re-establishment. Ile aux Aigrettes is a 26-hectare low coralline island declared a Nature Reserve in 1965. Restoration efforts began in 1985 to restore the coastal vegetation community and reintroduce missing flora and fauna components. The project was supported by the Nairobi Convention through the GEF funded WIOSAP project to relieve land-based stresses, improve water quality, and manage river flows. This initiative aligns with UNEP’s efforts to protect marine habitats and prevent species extinction.   

The objectives of the project included the creation of an ecosystem that supports plants, birds, reptiles, and insects, promoting conservation work, teaching Mauritians about their natural heritage, and raising national pride with Ile aux Aigrettes as a leading example of island conservation and ecotourism.  

The project achieved significant results, including the removal of invasive plants from over 14 hectares, the identification of habitats suitable for seabirds, and the reintroduction of 486 native plant species. Additionally, it successfully educated 12,500 visitors on the importance of ecosystem restoration and provided training for 20 guides. Native species such as Pink Pigeons and Olive White-eyes were reintroduced, while Aldabra Tortoises were introduced to replace the extinct Mauritian tortoises. Invasive species were eradicated, rare native plants were cultivated, and school children participated in the ‘Learning with Nature’ initiative. Awareness was enhanced through guided tours, and educational resources on biodiversity were developed. Local workers played a vital role in the removal of invasive species and the attraction of seabirds, thereby reinforcing the relationship between seabirds, conservation efforts, and food security. The beneficiaries of this initiative include Mauritian ecosystems, the local community, students, and international stakeholders.

More photos from the projects, hover and click on the photo to expand.

For more information about the WIOSAP project, contact Jared Bosire.