Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 Inside front cover Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Ken Lee Tower Corner of Line Barracks and St. Georges Streets Port Louis Republic of Mauritius Tel: +(230) 203 6200 Fax: +(230) 212 8324 Email: [email protected] Website: http://environment.gov.mu © Copyright 2011 by Government of Mauritius Cover photo courtesy: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority Atlantis Marine Consultants Government Information Service Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 i ii Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Foreword I am privileged to present this Mauritius Environment Outlook report, which is the fi rst of its kind in the history of environmental reporting in Mauritius. This report analyses the environmental trends for the past twenty years, assesses the present state of the environment and looks into the prospects for shaping a better future for individuals, society, industries, organisations and coming generations. The Mauritius Environment Outlook report has been published at a point in time when the world is preparing for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO + 20) in 2012 to renew their commitment to sustainable development. At the local level, this commitment has been given a new impetus through the “Maurice Ile Durable’ (Mauritius a sustainable island) concept. And to vehicle this concept, the mandate of my Ministry has been broadened to include sustainable development. It is high time we realise that environment is a pre-requisite for development and our well-being. Our natural environment is fundamental in providing resources to produce goods and services, to support the nation, industries and tourism. This report which highlights the policy choices before us will defi nitely contribute in paving the way to make environmental sustainability an integral part of all national development planning. To achieve this, we need to move from words to actions. This will require the appropriate mix of measures including the regulatory and institutional set up, strengthening decision-making and identifying the priorities for action. The report will guide our future endeavours so that we can all work together to make ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ a reality at all levels, from grassroots to the highest political instance. I wish to thank all the organizations and individuals who contributed in the realisation of this report and look forward to their equal full participation and collaborative effort in the implementation phase. Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy, G.O.S.K, F.C.C.A Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 iii Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development acknowledges the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Indian Ocean Commission as well as the contribution of Dr John Roberts and the following institutions in the preparation of this fi rst Mauritius Environment Outlook report. ~ Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities ~ Ministry of Finance and Economic Development ~ Ministry of Housing and Lands ~ Ministry of Tourism and Leisure ~ Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security ~ Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands ~ Ministry of Health and Quality of Life ~ Ministry of Fisheries and Rodrigues ~ Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment ~ University of Mauritius ~ Mauritius Meteorological Services ~ Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute ~ Central Water Authority ~ Outer Island Development Corporation ~ Central Statistics Offi ce ~ Mauritian Wildlife Foundation ~ Rodrigues Regional Assembly iv Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Table of Contents Table of Contents Acronyms xii - xiii List of Figures, Tables and Boxes xiv - xvii Introduction 1 PART 1: MAURITIUS CHAPTER 1: DRIVERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE & POLICY RESPONSES 6 1.1 Environmental Change and Socio-economic Factors 6 1.1.1 Population Growth 6 1.1.2 Economic Development 8 1.1.3 Production and Consumption Patterns 10 1.2 Implications on the Environment 13 1.3 The need for Sustainable Development and Governance 15 1.3.1 Maurice Ile Durable 15 1.3.2 The Millennium Development Goals 16 1.3.3 Environment Performance Index 17 1.3.4 Environmental Governance 17 Chapter Summary 24 CHAPTER 2: AIR 25 2.1 Challenges 25 2.1.1 Electricity Generation 25 2.1.2 Industrial Activities 27 2.1.3 Transport and Vehicular Emissions 28 2.1.4 Sugar Cane Burning 29 2.1.5 Medical Waste Incineration 29 2.1.6 Environment Protection (Standards for Air) Regulations 29 2.1.7 Air Quality Monitoring 30 2.1.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 30 2.1.9 Ozone Depleting Substances 30 2.1.10 Persistent Organic Pollutants 31 2.1.11 State and Trends of Air Quality 31 2.1.12 Impacts 33 2.2 Progress 34 2.2.1 Institutional Framework for Air Quality Monitoring in Mauritius 35 2.2.2 Review of Environment Protection (Standards for Air Quality) Regulations 1998 35 2.2.3 Energy Sector 35 2.2.4 Transport Sector and Vehicular Emissions 35 2.2.5 Industrial Activities 36 2.2.6 Sugar Cane Burning 37 2.2.7 Development of an Air Quality Index for Mauritius 37 2.2.8 Ozone Layer Protection 37 2.3 Prospects 38 2.3.1 Policy Options for the Future 39 Chapter Summary 41 Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 v Table of Contents CHAPTER 3: FRESHWATER 43 3.1 Challenges 44 3.1.1 Population Growth 44 3.1.2 Water Demand 45 3.1.3 Pressures on Water Resources 46 3.1.4 Water Stress and Water Scarcity 48 3.1.5 Surface and Groundwater Quality 48 3.2 Progress 49 3.2.1 Management of Demand and Supply 50 3.2.2 Institutional and Legal Framework 50 3.2.3 Implementation of the National Sewerage Programme 50 3.2.4 Preparation of a National Water Policy 51 3.2.5 Projects on Cleaning of Rivers 51 3.2.6 Integrated Water Resources Management Plan 51 3.2.7 National Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production 52 3.2.8 Study on Environmentally Sensitive Areas in Mauritius 53 3.2.9 Awareness Campaigns 53 3.2.10 Measures to Reduce Unaccounted for Water 53 3.2.11 Quality and Ecological Assessment of Freshwater Bodies 53 3.3 Prospects 54 3.3.1 Policy Options for the Future 57 Chapter Summary 58 CHAPTER 4: LAND 60 4.1 Challenges 60 4.1.1 Increasing Demand for Land 60 4.1.2 Agricultural Production 61 4.1.3 Development along the Coastline 62 4.1.4 Traffi c Congestion 62 4.1.5 Development on Wetlands 62 4.2 Progress 63 4.2.1 The National Development Strategy and its Related Enactments 63 4.2.2 The Environment Protection Act 64 4.2.3 The Land Administration, Valuation and Information Management System 64 4.2.4 Social Housing Project 64 4.2.5 Sugar Sector Reform Plan 64 4.2.6 Cross Border Initiatives 64 4.2.7 Management of Environmentally Sensitive Areas 64 4.2.8 Integrated Coastal Zone Management 66 4.2.9 Reforms on Leases of State Land 66 4.2.10 Sustainable Land Management 66 4.3 Prospects 67 4.3.1 Policy Options for the Future 68 Chapter Summary 69 vi Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Table of Contents CHAPTER 5: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 70 5.1 Challenges 70 5.1.1 Population Growth 70 5.1.2 Economic Development 71 5.1.3 Production and Consumption Patterns 72 5.1.4 Trends in Landfi lling of Waste 72 5.1.5 Waste Composition 73 5.1.6 Waste Management 73 5.1.7 Recycling 75 5.1.8 Inadequate Legal and Policy Framework for Waste Management 75 5.1.9 Public Expenditure on Waste Management 75 5.1.10 Social Problems at the Landfi ll 76 5.2 Progress 76 5.2.1 Policies and Programmes 76 5.2.2 Legislations 77 5.2.3 Recycling Initiatives 78 5.2.4 Landfi ll Gas-to-Energy Project 79 5.2.5 Waste Treatment 79 5.2.6 Management of Port Waste 79 5.3 Prospects 80 5.3.1 Policy Options for the Future 81 Chapter Summary 84 CHAPTER 6: COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES 85 6.1 Challenges 85 6.1.1 Development along the Coastline 85 6.1.2 Tourism 86 6.1.3 Beach Erosion 87 6.1.4 Pressures on Coastal Water Quality 88 6.1.5 Trends in Fisheries Stocks 88 6.1.6 Coastal Wetlands 89 6.1.7 Coral Reefs 89 6.1.8 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise 90 6.1.9 Scattered Roles and Responsibilities 90 6.1.10 Inadequate Management of Coastal Development 91 6.1.11 Marine Biodiversity 91 6.2 Progress 92 6.2.1 Legal Framework 92 6.2.2 Control of Development in the Coastal Zone 92 6.2.3 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework 92 6.2.4 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Study for the Republic of Mauritius 93 6.2.5 Shoreline Management 93 6.2.6 Banning of Sand Mining 93 6.2.7 Lagoon Water Quality Monitoring 93 6.2.8 Creation of Marine Protected Areas 94 Mauritius Environment Outlook Report 2011 vii Table of Contents 6.2.9 Aquaculture 94 6.2.10 Seafood Hub 94 6.2.11 Fisheries Management 95 6.2.12 Mangroves 96 6.2.13 Coral Reef Monitoring and Protection 96 6.2.14 Invasive Alien Species 96 6.2.15 Sensitisation Programme 96 6.2.16 Oil Spill Contingency Planning 96 6.2.17 Regional Initiatives 97 6.3 Prospects 98 6.3.1 Policy Options for the Future 99 Chapter Summary 101 CHAPTER 7: INLAND BIODIVERSITY 103 7.1 Challenges 104 7.1.1 Land Conversion and Habitat Destruction 104 7.1.2 Natural Disasters and Climate Change 104 7.1.3 Invasive Alien Species 104 7.1.4 Pests and Diseases 106 7.1.5 Deer Ranching 106 7.1.6 Terrestrial Biodiversity 106 7.1.7 Agro Biodiversity 109 7.1.8 Freshwater Biodiversity 110 7.2 Progress 111 7.2.1 Institutional and Legal Framework 111 7.2.2 Biodiversity-related International Agreements 112 7.2.3 Policies and Strategies 112 7.2.4 Projects and Programmes for Terrestrial