NAJEEB FOKEERBUX
(on behalf of La Jeunesse Militante)
Sustainable development is mainly about the adequate distribution of resources as well as the preservation and replenishment of our resources over time for the coming generations. In Mauritius, our main resources are our rich marine expanse and our human resources. Other assets are the lands under cultivation, the sources of fresh water and the likes. The Green Paper by the relevant Ministry highlights that the four main pillars of MID will revolve around the following quartet: Ecology, Economy, Social, and Governance.
Sustainable development to be fully implemented must have all the indicators going upwards; and not one indicator going up at the detriment of the other indicators. This we believe has too often been the case in Mauritius and other developing countries. Besides long term measures, the focus should be on short term measures that will reap positive repercussions in both the medium and long terms. This paper contains a number of proposals that will help Mauritius to move towards a model of development and growth that is sustainable.
Starting with policies
Policies, especially those centering around our economic interests, should be linked in a clear manner to the other interfaces of sustainable development. The Mauritian dream of a more economically prosperous nation will have to be one where the riches of the country will be distributed in equity to all citizens and the state's funds will be judiciously used for protection, development and responsible exploitation of resources and the environment.
The protection of the fauna and flora of our island which contributes to the preservation of the natural equilibrium of our eco-system and which if sufficiently catered for could help limit the consequences of climate change. Even more so, our geographical position makes us prone to sea water rises, cyclones, and other natural calamities.
Localism is a key factor in achieving sustainability. Through local communities, people can learn how to limit their individual and household footprint to the minimum. Moreover such sustainable communities will be havens of citizenship where the notion of rights, duties and responsibilities would be ingrained. This would contribute towards the peaceful living and cohabitation of all components of the Mauritian society.
Preserving our Resources
Sustainable development does not and must not limit itself to the mere preservation of our natural resources but should encompass the safeguarding, development and judicious use of natural resources. Air, water and food are our prime resources and demand our foremost attention. In Mauritius, there has not been proper planning in most of our urban areas. A transportation system that is unfit for today has contributed and is contributing to air pollution. Lack of green spaces also contributes to increase air pollution. Water resources are becoming scarcer in Mauritius. Our reliance on rainfall for water as well as other lingering water related issues shall be dealt with in an article in the coming weeks.
We obtain food from two places: land and sea. Self-sufficiency is important to reduce our dependency on imported products. Our marine expanse is by far greater than that of our land. Most of our lands are under sugarcane cultivation; which is becoming less and less profitable. Again, the population growth, the increase of tourists coming to Mauritius and the increase in lifestyle and status of living will increase the demand in food for consumption.
To put a stop to this chaotic situation we should aim at reducing the levels of air pollution especially in towns and cities. With a tailored philosophy in mind, we must reanalyse town by town and develop a good road network and reallocation of bus routes to companies. The need to create buffer zones (green areas) to allow the cities to breathe is also pertinent in achieving an ecologically-sound island. What we need is the diversification of our agricultural activities from one that is sugar-dependent to one that takes into account our myriad of food needs.
The production of food abroad is a positive idea. However, the political instabilities that unfortunately plague African countries can be a possible threat to this endeavour. With a careful land planning and use, we can spot the best lands for cultivation as per which type of crops will yield a better output and we can identify places for farming on large scale. This shall also protect us from possible infections in plants. For example, if there is a fungus or an insect attack that is detrimental to sugarcane crops, the diversification of crops we cultivate will minimise losses at various levels.
Furthermore, as far as exploitation of our marine resources is concerned, we must set-up regulatory bodies to monitor closely the quality and quantity of sea food being exploited, and the rate of exploitation. This regulatory body must also make public the names of all companies exploiting these sea resources and the amount they are exploiting. Emphasis must also be placed on the percentage of profits that the state is obtaining; and this also must be made public.
TO BE CONTINUED
The way forward is an endeavour by the Jeunesse Militante that seeks to create greater awareness on a number of progressive thoughts, views and ideas. We welcome your comments on nouvo.maurice@gmail.com
2 comments:
I want to talk about something very specific but relevant to Sustainable Development: Blue Bay, and by extension all our lagoons.
Trips to the marine park there are wonderful experiences and hence good business. For tourists, it is about R 500 one tour and for Mauritians, R 200. The fees include transport to and from the marine park, renting of snorkeling equipment, and 30-45 minute of swimming among the huge corals and beautiful fish there.
However, as a regular visitor to the marine park, I have noticed that huge corals have been left lifeless. The oil from boats, regular travel, and overall exploitation of the place are very damaging to the ecosystem there. Already, the place is starkly different from what it used to be a couple of years ago.
Yet, there is no reason to believe an environmental solution cannot be reached that does not hurt the business. We know that a lot of people like Kayaking. The marine park is not that far out-why not hand them Kayaks and let them travel there. It is not too far out and certainly not dangerous; some people go as far as the reefs in Kayaks, where waves can get to about 3-4 meters in height. At the Marine Park, the sea is very calm and quite safe! They could be provided with life jackets for security. The park should have its hours, during which Coast Guard could provide security in case of hazards. It would be more beneficial for businesses because motor oil for boats costs a fortune!
Honestly, it is a pity to notice what this marine park has turned into. I hope this post finds a voice among Militants! As a frequent Scuba Diver, I have seen first hand how much damage tourism is doing to our marine ecosystem.
I would like to again touch on the tourism issue. In many developing countries with little resources, it is often the major pillar of the economy. Yet, there are numerous instances when paradises have been turned into hells of concrete jungles and pollution. Too often cheap and easy money from tourism have led to disastrous long-term damages. However, the nexus of economy progress and environmental sustainability is not impossible.
I will again cite a different but related example. Shark fining is a very lucrative business. So in places like South Africa, which is home to the one of the world's richest reserves of Great White Sharks, a lot of these were hunted for their fins. However, the authorities there, realising the damage that this caused, decided to ban shark fining. Instead, they started Shark Cage Diving, an activity where the person is put in a cage and the shark is lured nearby. The person enjoys the delightful experience of being in the sea with a 6 m long shark. Tourists going to South Africa make it a must to engage in this activity and it has become some kind of "Signature Activity" in Cape Town. Just walk around the harbour and people will come urging you to take a Cage Dive. It is big business. So, end of story: Great Whites are no longer hunted in South Africa anymore because SHARK CAGE DIVING IS A MORE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAN SHARK FINING!
Now, coming back to Mauritius, what creative solutions can we bring to the various sectors so that the economic development is truly sustainable?
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