Mauritius: Mangrove Restoration

Project Stage:
Completed

Start Date:
1995-06-15

End Date:
2005-06-15

Primary Causes of Degradation

Degradation Description

With agriculture, industry, and tourism (mainly marine-based) as its principal economic bases, Mauritius has enjoyed two decades of rapid development. However, the natural resource base of the coastal zone has been increasingly degraded by terrestrial inputs (dyestuff, heavy metals and complex chemical compounds, sewage) from intensified urbanization. Moreover, some of the mangrove areas have been privately utilized for farming mullet, crab, shrimp, and seacarp, while others have been degraded as a result of tourist infrastructure, ports and public beaches. Cyclones have also caused extensive damage to fragile coastal ecosystems in Mauritius.

Reference Ecosystem Description

The mangroves of Mauritius are mainly restricted to the northeast and east coasts and are comprised of two species: Rhizophora mucronata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. R. mucronata is the more common species, however, representing almost 100% of the mangrove area. Mangrove belts often occur along lagoons and are part of complex systems encompassing a variety of habitats: beaches, sand or mud swamps, mangrove belts, lagoon channels, coral colonies, sand cays, a reef zone, and seagrass beds (including patches of Halophila ovata, Halodule uninervis, and Syrinqodium isoetifolium).

Project Goals

The main objectives of the Mangrove Propagation Programme were to restore denuded areas with mangroves and to propagate them at places where natural regeneration was slow.

Monitoring

The project does not have a monitoring plan.

Description of Project Activities:
This project employed both indirect and direct methodology. For the indirect planting phases, a mangrove nursery was established at Mahebourg Fish Farm. Mangrove propagules were collected, placed in small plastic bags with mud and kept in the nursery until they reached the four-leaf stage (2-3 months). The nursery-reared seedlings were then planted at selected sites around the island. The project also incorporated a direct planting phase, wherein mature propagules where collected from parent trees and then directly planted in the mud at the selected site.

Ecological Outcomes Achieved

Eliminate existing threats to the ecosystem:
During the first phase (June 1995 - 1996), 12,400 seedlings were planted at nine sites around the island covering a total lagoonal area of 22,750m2, much of this in and adjacent to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including Black River, Poudre d'Or and Grand Port Fishing Reserves. An average survival rate of 65% was noted. The second phase (June 1997 - December 1998), involved four sites along the west coast, covering an area of 23,750 m2 where 47,500 seedlings were planted. During the third phase (February 2000 - 2001), five sites along the north shore were selected and 40,000 seedlings were planted covering 20,000 m2. For the fourth phase, three sites in the east with an area of 29,000 m2 were planted with 58,000 seedlings. The fifth phase, involved a mud flat of 25,000 m2 on the western part of the island. No seedlings were planted at this site, but 42,000 propagules were collected from mother trees and directly inserted in the mud to about one-third their length, without prior development in the nursery. A year later, over 95% of the propagules had developed into healthy plants reaching four to six leaf stages, confirming the success of directly planting propagules. Planting efforts continued from April to May 2004, with 14,000 seedlings planted over 7,000 m2 with a 70% survival rate. Finally, 900 seedlings were planted over 1,000 m2 in 2005. Since 1995, a total of 214,800 mangrove seedlings / propagules have been planted over an area of 129,500 m2, or approximately 13 hectares, with an estimated overall survival rate of 78%. With the 9.4 hectares of existent mangrove swamps, the 13 hectares of restored mangroves increase the total mangrove area in Mauritius to approximately 23 hectares.

Factors limiting recovery of the ecosystem:
It was noted that around 7,000 plants were destroyed in October 2004. After investigating the loss, it was found that they had been destroyed for access of boats to the shore.

Socio-Economic & Community Outcomes Achieved

Economic vitality and local livelihoods:
Healthy coastal ecosystems are central to Mauritius's overall economic vitality. Around 70% of commercial fish species depend on mangroves, particularly in their juvenile stages. Not only are fisheries reliant upon healthy mangroves, so too is the growing tourist industry in Mauritius. Tourism has become an increasingly important source of revenue for the country as a whole, and much of this tourism centers around coastal attractions. Therefore, the restoration and protection of mangroves, and thus of the larger coastal ecosystem, will help ensure a vital source of income and livelihood.

Long-Term Management

Awareness campaigns are conducted to educate the public and the fishermen community about the importance of mangroves. The following are also included:
1. Distribution of pamphlets to school children and the fishermen community;
2. Delivering of talks at Community Centres and at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre (during guided visits);
3. Communication through mass media and press.

Sources and Amounts of Funding

This project was conducted under the auspices of the Mauritius Ministry of Fisheries.

Other Resources

Meera Koonjul
Albion Fisheries Research Centre
Email: mkoonjul@mail.gov.mu

Republic of Mauritius Ministry of Fisheries
http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/moasite/fisheries/afrc.htm

Primary Contact

Organizational Contact