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/KM 2 (Approx) Climate: Tropical Winter (May- Nov) Summer (Nov- May) Mean Annual temperature: Avg maximum 31 º c Avg minimum 14 º c 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) DroughtAlready occur to some DroughtAlready occur to some Torrential rainsextent Torrential rainsextent Floods Floods LandslidesFurther exacerbation by climate change LandslidesFurther exacerbation by climate change Cyclones Cyclones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 THANK YOU