R2R Project at the Heart of a Workshop in Port Louis

Identifying key stakeholders in the biodiversity management process is the focus of a two-day workshop that began Monday, July 28, at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis.

This workshop is part of the Mauritius Ridge to Reef (R2R) project and brings together key individuals and institutions to build an effective biodiversity management platform. The R2R project, funded by the European Union and led by the National Parks and Conservation Service, aims to help Mauritius better protect its natural resources.

During the workshop, participants will study different models for managing natural resources, compare experiences from other countries, and consider ways to encourage conservation through financial aid or other incentives. Several personalities were present at the opening, including Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Fabrice David, Minister Delegate for Agro-industry, and Oskar Benedikt, Ambassador of the European Union to Mauritius and Seychelles.

Minister Arvin Boolell explained that this platform is an important step in Mauritius’s efforts to better organize the protection of its biodiversity. He hopes that this platform will support national priorities and help increase protected areas on land and at sea. Arvin Boolell also emphasized that decisions made must be inclusive and involve all communities. “No one should be left behind,” he announced. The workshop continues with small group discussions to define how the platform will operate. This project is an important step towards the sustainable protection of Mauritian nature through collaboration between all stakeholders.