Bio-diversity

Project end date delayed due to difficulties encountered by grantee. End date will be reviewed in consultation with NC, NSC and grantee. Chamarel is a small agricultural village situated in the mountainous region south west of Mauritius. Though access is quite difficult by car, Chamarel is well known for its coloured earth and historical aspects related to slavery, and green tourism. Around 170 families with an average of 700 inhabitants live at Chamarel. 101 children have been recorded. The number of men and women is reasonably balanced. Little statistical updated information is actually available. It is to be noted that Chamarel is one of the least developed western rural area from the social, economic and cultural perspectives. It is the last village to get connected to the electrical network in the seventies. The main objective of the proposed project is to initiate organic farming practices on 1.15 arpents of land belonging to the NGO with an aim to sell the organic vegetables to the Tables D`Hotes of Chamarel as well as inhabitants, hotels and general public. The second objective is to plant artisanal and medicinal plants as well on the plot of land for long-term production of local handicraft products. The third objective is to train 3 local inhabitants into eco-tourist guides and thus create the link between the proposed nature trail of the Ministry of Tourism and this project. It is expected that the beneficiaries will be 5 Community Leaders, 15 youth planters, 7 artisans /farmers, and 3 -5 eco tourist guides.

Mauritius