RESTORING COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: A NEW FINANCING AGREEMENT

Published on February 20 2020

Madagascar
Comoros
Mauritius
Seychelles
Coastal and high seas management

On 20 February 2020 in Mauritius, Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Hamada Madi, Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), signed a new financing agreement for a project aimed at strengthening the resilience of coastal ecosystems in the Indian Ocean. The €10 million in financing is being provided jointly by the FFEM and AFD.

The project seeks to strengthen the resilience of the coastal ecosystems in Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and the Seychelles so they can continue to play their environmental and socio-economic roles in combating the adverse effects of climate change. Key ecosystems such as mangroves, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds and coral reefs will be restored. Protecting these ecosystems is paramount because they provide essential services for local communities. Sustainable, income-generating activities will be developed at each pre-identified pilot site in each country to allow coastal communities to build resilience.

The project has two objectives. Firstly, it aims to strengthen regional and national governance of local coastal and marine ecosystems. And secondly, it seeks to develop a diverse range of innovative and replicable projects focused on the restoration and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems. Specifically, it will have the support of scientific working groups.

The project is being conducted in partnership with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), whose member states are the main beneficiaries of the project, alongside private and public operators, NGOs and local communities.