Bio-diversity

This project originated as a consumer issue faced by the NGO ACIM regarding the perception of the increased use of plastic bags at the detriment of our natioanlly notorious`tante bazar` produced from the`Vacoas` leaves, scientifically known as Pandanus utilis and which is a native to Mauritius and the Mascarenes. Parallely, the MAA were involved at Le Bouchon with the`Vacoas` weaver community. Three studies were undertaken, namely the socio-economic study, the ecological study and the consumer study. The objectives of the overall study were to evaluate the possibility of conserving biodiversity with the management of pandanus trees, to encourage people, mainly women, to maintain the productive capacity and biological diversity of the environment, to promote the use of the pandanus bag (being more environmentally friendly) and to provide training at the community level to pandanus cultivators and bagmanufacturers.

Mauritius