Environmental policy and administrative management

Due to the stress of uncontrolled population growth, lack of proper planning and the proximity of extremely hazardous industrial sites (port area, chemicals, petroleum, waste disposal, etc.) in the Roche Bois region, environmental degradation has been a key factor affecting the life of its inhabitants. For a long time, the NGO has particularly engaged actions in the field of lobbying and networking in order to regroup communities and sensitise authorities about such threats. Following these actions, they have managed to obtain some good results: problems of acute pollution resolved, actions from the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Local Government concerning the future of the Roche Bois solid waste disposal area, actions regarding the Terre Rouge rivulet and estuary, among others. They have also carried out education projects to involve local communities and invite them to manage and conserve their environment. However, the NGO feels that other steps aimed at developing the local socio-economic fabric must accompany this action. Indeed, they should aim at developing income-generating activities that could help to develop the different groups within the local communities. Not only those directly affected by environmental production issues (pig breeders, fishermen) but also school children and dropouts. A planning grant is allocated for a survey of the environmental problems, consultative meetings with all stakeholders and development of a project proposal. The planning grant allowed them to carry out a survey among the inhabitants to identify the main problems in the region: those are drug, prostitution, unemployment, environmental problems, school failures. Following this survey, the community will propose several projects to rehabilitate the environment.

Mauritius