Mauritius - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Mauritius has been designated by IUCN as a “Centre of Plant Diversity” and is included in the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot. The country is characterized by a high level of endemism, with 39% of plants, 80% of non-marine birds, 80% of reptiles, and 40% of bat species reported as endemic, as a result of the island’s location, age, isolation and varied topography... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The main threats to biodiversity under the various thematic areas are, firstly, potential loss of biodiversity and, secondly, degradation/loss of habitat. Key drivers identified are land clearing for development and others purposes (mainly on privately-owned land), invasive alien species, habitat modification for deer ranching, pollution from land based sources and activities (mainly nonpoint sources), and adverse impacts of climate change... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The NBSAP (2006-2015) for the Republic Mauritius was completed and approved by the Government of Mauritius through the Cabinet of Ministers in December 2006, and considers relevant COP decisions, the 2010 Biodiversity Target and the Millennium Development Goals. There are five strategic objectives set in the NBSAP, namely: (i) to establish a representative and viable Protected Area Network (PAN); (ii) to manage key biodiversity components; (iii) to enable the sustainable use of biodiversity; (iv) to maintain ecosystem services; (v) to manage biotechnology and its products... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

So far, the total area of conserved sites amounts to 221 km2, representing 78% of the legally proclaimed protected areas for biodiversity conservation and comprising at least 57% of all native species (although omitting some of the rarest highly-localized species). Mauritius has proclaimed 3 Ramsar sites of international importance, 6 fishing reserves, 2 marine parks, 8 islet national parks... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Biodiversity conservation, management and sustainable use have been integrated in most development plans and strategies prepared over the last decades, in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and fisheries. Examples include: the National Environmental Strategies (1998), Climate Change Action Plan (1999), Tourism Development Plan (2002), National Development Strategies (2004), Islets National Park Strategic Plan (2004), National Action Program to Combat Desertification (2004), National Environment Policy (2007), National Environmental Strategies (2008), Environmentally Sensitive Areas Study (2009), National IAS Strategy and Action Plan (2010), Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework (2010), National Forest Policy (2006), Second National Communication of the Republic of Mauritius under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2010), Maurice Ile Durable (MID) Green Paper (2011), MID Working Group Report on Preservation of Biodiversity and Natural Resources (2011), National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework (2012) and Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in the Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Water Sector for the Republic of Mauritius (2012)... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

A Darwin Initiative project grant to set up an information system for biodiversity and conservation management in Mauritius resulted in the development of databases for threatened bird species and plant nursery management, which are both currently in use. There is regular and detailed monitoring of four mainland bird species (Mauritius Kestrel, Mauritius Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Mauritius Fody)... More »