Mauritius - Biodiversity restoration

31062 Findings G In oo fo d br Pr ief ac tic e Africa Region · Number 100 · May 2004 Findings Infobriefs reports on Good Practice in ongoing operational, economic and sector work carried out by the World Bank and its member governments in the Africa Region. It is published monthly by the Knowledge and Learning Center on behalf of the Region. The views expressed in Findings are those of the author/s and should not be attributed to the World Bank Group. http://www.worldbank.org/afr/findings Mauritius: Biodiversity Restoration This project (1996–2001), whose total cost was $1.6 million, intended to (a) protect critically endangered biodiversity of international importance by restoring degraded small island habitats and propagating and reintroducing endemic species to these habitats; and (b) strengthen capacity for the management and monitoring of biodiversity restoration. Impact on the ground • The last significant remnant of the Mauritian coastal ebony forest is well on its way to restoration with 90 percent of the island of Ile aux Aigrettes having been cleared of alien weed. A secure funding base for the sustainable funding of the island’s restoration program has also been established. • Huge increases in knowledge on the propagation of native plants have been achieved. This has led to an increase in the island’s nursery production from 7,000 plants of 12 species in 1998 to 16,500 plants of 35 species in 2001. A total of 85,000 plants of 53 species have been produced on the island of Rodrigues during the project period. On Round Island, approximately 140,000 seeds of 16 species were sown—the success rate was almost zero. • The knowledge developed on Round Island is now being used in a follow-up GEF-supported project for the comprehensive restoration of the island. • All except one of a target list of 54 species have been successfully propagated on the island of Rodrigues—many of these have been brought back from the brink of extinction. A total of 69,000 individuals of these species were propagated over the project period. • The project has contributed significantly to a large increase in the level of public awareness—both nationally and internationally—about biodiversity value and conservation efforts in Mauritius. This has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of Mauritian volunteers to carry out conservation work. • Careful monitoring of restoration work and experimental trials have resulted in improved knowledge in restoration techniques. Conservation capacity has increased significantly in both the government and non- government sectors. The “Good Practice Infobrief” series is edited by P.C. Mohan, mail stop J-8-811, Knowledge and Learning Center, World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington D.C., 20433. Tel. (202) 473-4114; e-mail: pmohan@worldbank.org • In 1997, the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation (MWF) launched its eco-tourism program on the Ile aux Aigrettes. Eco-tourist tours have been developed adhering to the strictest principles of eco-tourism, the purpose being both to inform the public about on-going conservation work as well as to build sustainable funding. Eco-tourists have increased from 800 in 1998 to 3,960 in 2001, and the 9,000 visitors expected in 2002 will cover all ecotour costs. Some 25–30,000 visitors are expected to arrive over the next five years. • Practical restoration work has been carried out alongside experimental trials and careful monitoring. Specific measures that have led to increased efficiency in restoration include the use of physical on-site grid markers for the mapping of restoration areas on Ile aux Aigrettes and Rodrigues. • During the course of the GEF project, MWF grew from being a small, largely fauna-focused, expatriate- dominated NGO to being a large NGO focusing on whole eco-systems and with the majority of its staff being Mauritian. Developments within MWF have been paralleled by increases in the capacity of government agencies to carry out the conservation of native biodiversity. The Rodrigues Forestry Service is now planting native species; the Mauritius Forestry Service has established a Biodiversity Unit to carry out conservation in areas not currently conserved by MWF and the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS). • The government has decided to involve NGOs in the management of some of the islets. Thus, for example, in the Mahebourg area in particular, where the Ile de Aigrettes is located, the national heritage Trust would be mandated to restore and manage Ile de Passe, and MWF would take responsibility for Fouquet, Vacoa, Marianne and Roche aux Oiseaux. In the North, the government has decided to mandate the management of Flat Island and Ile Gabrielle to the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Mauritius Island. Lessons learned • The logistics of working on small islands is complex. This was clearly an under-estimated factor for Round Island, but also applies to Rodrigues and Ile aux Aigrettes. Partnerships are essential to overcome such difficulties. • Collaboration with partners, especially between public entities such as government departments and NGOs, benefits from the arrangements and modalities being clearly spelled out, and is ideally done through a formal Memorandum of Understanding. • There is as much to learn from failure as from success, as illustrated by the learning process at Round Island, where trial and errors have led to a better understanding of how the island can be restored. This has led to the development of a follow-up project, now on-going. This Infobrief has been excerpted from Implementation Complete Report No. 25047. For more information, e-mail Michel Simeon: msimeon@worldbank.org Persons accessing the Bank’s external website can get more information on Tourism by clicking on Topics in Development and then on Environment. Bank staff can access this information by clicking on Topics and then on Environment.