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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. Geography and location. Population : 1.2 million Population density :
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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
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
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%)
Types of Disasters (Hydro-meteorological in Character) • Drought Already occur to some • Torrential rains extent • Floods • Landslides Further exacerbation by climate change • Cyclones
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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