Environmental research

1.1 Project Summary Climate change is a global phenomenon. This is directly linked with an increase in carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide levels in the atmosphere owing to an increase in human activity on the planet. All the three gases are known as the Green House Gases (GHG). Whilst, the increase in carbon dioxide level is directly correlated to use of fossil fuels, increase in methane and nitrogen oxide is the result of intensive agriculture. Despite the fact that the emission of GHG in Mauritius and Rodrigues is insignificant, warming-up of the planet and its effects on our natural and ecological system are already palpable. Records of temperature in Mauritius and its outer islands have shown a definite warming trend. Similar warming trends have also been observed in Rodrigues, St Brandon and Agalega. Temperature at St Brandon and Rodrigues has warmed up by 0.5 1.0 oC. (Meteorological services, Mauritius) Warming of the atmosphere has also impacted the hydrologic cycle over the southwest Indian Ocean. Long-term time series of rainfall amount over the past century (1905 to 2007) show a decreasing trend in annual rainfall over Mauritius. The total decrease during the last ten years is about 8% when compared to the 1950s. Annual rainfall over the outer islands indicate significant variation from year to year but long-term analysis do show decreasing rainfall trend in Rodrigues. Other observed impacts due to climate change in Rodrigues are: - A lengthening of the intermediate dry season, the transition period between winter and summer, has been observed. - There has been a shift in the start of the summer rains. This shift in the onset of the rains is highly significant as it translates into much pressure on the water sector to meet increasing demands of the agricultural, tourism, industrial and domestic sectors. - The number of consecutive dry days is increasing while the number of rainy days is decreasing. - The frequency of extreme weather events, heavy rains and storms of tropical cyclone strength or higher, has increased significantly over the last two decades. In this respect, most countries are taking necessary measures such as increasing or maintaining forest area and shifting from non-renewable energy to renewable energy in order to adapt to climate change. Hence, with the dual objectives of mitigating the effect of climate change, whilst concurrently reducing poverty and empowering the vulnerable groups through sustainable economic activities, the Rodrigues Regional Assembly is further encouraging and empowering the community such as women cooperatives to embark on such projects. In this perspective, the Graviers Multipurpose Cooperative Society which comprises nine (9) active members, which are ex-lagoon fishers is proposing the setting-up of a lemon production and processing industry. This project entails the plantation of at least two hundred juvenile lemon trees and other cash crops over a surface area of 8,000m2. The harvested lemon on the site will be processed into lemon concentrates and other agro-products such as the Agro-doux, for which Rodrigues is renowned for. The Rodrigues Regional Assembly, through the Deputy Chief Commissioner s Office has committed a sum of MUR 4.5 million for the construction of the processing plant. The facility will be utilized and managed by two cooperatives within the vicinity of Graviers. Besides giving value addition to the ti limon Rodrigues, one of the key objective will be to reduce the quantity of lemon spoiled each year. It is estimated that the annual production of lemon in Rodrigues oscillates between 400-500 T (Commission for Agriculture, 2013). In 2011 however, exportation of fresh lemon to Mauritius was 292 T (Digest of Statistics for Rodrigues, July 2012). This means that approximately 158 T representing 35% of the annual production is spoiled. On the other hand, the figures also reveal that fresh lemon account for nearly 100% of the total lemon exported to Mauritius with no value addition. Furthermore, with the objective of reducing the utilisation of fossil fuels, the project is making provision for photovoltaic solar panel with a capacity of 5 KW which will reduce the dependency of the processing plant from electricity generated from fossil fuels. Moreover, given that Graviers is a region with high solar intensity, excess electricity produced could be resold to the electrical grid at an attractive price. This will further generate income for the cooperatives and raises the project sustainability. The project will also espouse an organic approach of cultivation. The facility will be equipped with an efficient composting unit for the production compost from organic lemon waste. The compost will be an alternative to chemical fertilisers in the lemon orchard. The ultimate idea is to obtain a green certification for the project. Moreover, the building will be equipped with rain harvesting equipment which will also reduce dependency and pressure on the domestic water grid, especially during droughts since water will be stored in high capacity water tanks. In light of the above, it can be said that the project is in line with the policy of the GEF, which aims at reducing greenhouse gases which in turn will mitigate the effect of climate change through the process of carbon dioxide trapping with a semi-large scale plantation of lemon trees. Equipping the project with solar panel to generate electricity will also contribute to a reduc

Mauritius