Environmental policy and administrative management

This project seeks to promote activities that demonstrate ways of adopting best practices to limit contamination of international water (Op 10) and combating land degradation which is one of the main axes of the new operational program 15 on Sustainable Land Management It concentrates on community initiatives to recycle organic wastes to produce good quality composts that can be used in agriculture and to further improve the soil. It also aims at reducing the use of chemical fertilizers thus reducing the impact of leaching of nutrients during agricultural runoff. It is thus in line with the operational program 10 of the GEF, under the focal area of the international waters. It falls under the GEF/SGP category of demonstration and capacity building. The main emphasis of the project will be to build capacity among Rodriguans to act as trainers for the island to disseminate information and train farmers on best agricultural practices, including preparation and utilisation of composts. This project is thematically linked with sustainable land management as judicious utilisation of composts would lead to reduction in soil erosion, improve quality of soil and provide valuable nutrients to soil. The primary objectives of the project are to build capacity in compost making and utilisation as follows: Developing a pool of trainers in compost making and utilisation. Training of young Rodriguans in composter construction and maintenance Training members of key associations registered with the federation on monitoring and troubleshooting composting processes 1) This project consists of a train the trainers course on developing community wide compost programs. The course is meant to train participants to train farmers and other interested parties on the basics of composting, manage and operate compost piles. Topics will include types of organic wastes, characteristics, suitability for composting, composting principles, beneficial use of compost and monitoring on site composting programs. The course is targeted towards educators, staff of NGO s, farmer community groups, gardening groups and government officials. A special training program and emphasis on monitoring compost piles and troubleshooting will be carried out with the executive members of the Federation.

Mauritius