Environmental policy and administrative management

The loss of employment due to the cessation of the sand extraction from the lagoons has made the ex sand extractors economically extremely vulnerable. Pointe des Lascars has 250 families, 150 of whom were directly involved with the sand extraction. Pointe des Lascars has several unique features making it particularly suitable for development as an eco-tourism village. However this will require time, infrastructure development and training to achieve its full potential. This project will specifically assist in developing alternative income generating activities linked to biodiversity conservation within the context of the Pointe des Lascars community as a whole, through providing training and job creation for vulnerable groups in the area such as young people, women and unemployed persons. It is intended that this project will integrate with the planned infrastructure developments already scheduled for the area by the Government. These include a water front development at the sand landing jetty, construction of a cycle and walking track, refurbishment of the barachois sea wall and introduction of a Day Care Centre and Pre Primary school. Development of a Cultural Centre for demonstrating the various religious ceremonies and other traditional activities of Mauritius will be included within the infrastructure development plans, as will facilities for a Table d Hote. This project will concentrate on sustainable environmental and ecological income generating schemes leading to poverty alleviation and the conservation of biodiversity in the area through the development of eco-tourism. As some of the projects will generate more profits than others, it will be necessary to implement a management method to ensure the equitable distribution of any profits that are acquired through the project activities. This will in part be achieved by establishing the Pointe Des Lascars Community Co-operative to implement and manage the projects. The co-operative will employ an external project manager responsible for developing the project management team, implementation strategy and training geared towards sustainability of the project. Lessons learned from this project will be applicable elsewhere in Mauritius and indeed throughout the Region. The project is aimed at providing potential employment for about 60 members of the target groups, including the women of the village. These include: the development of an organic market garden and endemic plant nursery, producing vegetables and plants for sale locally and nationally, a mangrove propagation and nursery area, to provide mangroves plantlets for the shoreline protection and rehabilitation programmes against erosion/siltation and to increase the coastal surface under mangrove respectively . Provision of bicycles and kayaks as examples of sustainable transport, raising awareness of the importance and value of sustainable transport among the citizens of Mauritius and particularly the residents of Pointe Des Lascars in turn leading to sustainable eco-tourism developments in the area. The sustainable transport initiatives will be supported by the development of an ecologically designed cycle and walking trail displaying endemic plants and taking in the key features of the area such as the barachois, the beach and the river bank. The barachois will host a boating park for youngsters and will propose leisure activities. A propagation unit and nursery area for mangroves will also be part of the barachois. The sustainable transport and biodiversity theme will be developed in the barachois which will serve as a safe training area for youngsters to learn to kayak and to learn about the ecology of mangroves and the ecosystems within the barachois before venturing onto the river and lagoon. With the assistance of the National Handicraft Authority, a cottage industry for the production of local handicrafts such as string bags to sell to visitors and to outlets elsewhere in Mauritius will be developed. These initiatives will be untaken in conjunction with additional services that will provide mutually beneficial added value to the area such as Table d Hote and restaurant. The Spiritual Park already attracts a high number of visitors at various times of the year, however currently there are no entertainment or service facilities for these visitors. The combination of the facilities and services offered by this project and those of the Spiritual Park will attract a sufficiently wide range of potential visitors from the local and international sectors to ensure economic sustainability of the planned activities. Pointe des Lascars Village includes an old cemetery which will form part of the bicycle and walking trail. The cemetery is already considered as a historical place. The vicinity on the marine side is enhanced by the presence of a small islet locally known as Ilot Mort. The islet will be used as a base for marine-related activities and for surveillance while leisure-seekers are at sea.

Mauritius