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Economic Aspects | Natural Resource Aspects | Institutional Aspects | Social Aspects |Mauritius
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Mauritius maintains a positive approach towards the environment. The Ministry of
Environment cooperates with other national institutions.
In accordance with the institutional legislative recommendations of the NEAP, a full
fledged Ministry for the Environment was created in November 1989, and the Environment
Protection Act (EPA) was enacted in 1991.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and PlansStrategies for environmental management are continually evolving and undergoing improvement. The country's awareness and commitment towards the environment can be traced as far back as 1988, when a World Bank team assisted the government of Mauritius in preparing a National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) to address major environmental issues.
The seriousness of the government in addressing environmental issues was also reflected
in the preparation of a White Paper on the National Environment Policy in July 1990, based
on the principles of sustainable development.
The guiding principles for environmental policy objectives, which form the basis for
development planning are the following:
Thus, in the integrated project planning approach, environmental considerations are
incorporated into project planning implementation through a mandatory requirement under
the EPA. Any proposed activity listed in the fifth schedule of the EPA cannot be
implemented until an EIA report has been submitted by the proponent, and an EIA license
has been received.
Apart from the strategies described above, other major environmental policies include the
following:
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and RegulationsNo information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Policies and strategies and plans for achievement of equality in all aspects of society
have been drawn up and completed. Mechanisms are in place to assess implementation and
impact of development and environment policies and programmes on women.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
Women have been in the forefront of environmental advocacy and consciousness raising in
environmental movements in Mauritius. Such public action is a reflection of a development
perspective that seeks to integrate both social and environmental concerns. Actions for
the future, as spelled out in the White Paper on Women in Development, include the
following:
-Increase environmental education of women, awareness of the link between diet, health,
and environment, including consumer awareness of food additives, pesticide residues, and
environment hazards associated with particular technologies.
-Ensure that stategies for the sustainable use of natural resources are gender-sensitive,
and provide training for women as natural resources managers.
-Enhance women's capacity to be responsible stakeholders of the environment.
-Ensure that capacity building-programmes in environmental management target women as well
as men.
Status
The number of women in the government increased from 24%, in 1992, to 29%
in 1996. At the local government level, the percentage remained at 1.4%. The number of
women in parliament increased from 3.3%, in 1992, to 9.7% in 1996.
Challenges
No information is available.
The curricula and educational material are being revised with a view to promoting dissemination of gender-relevant knowledge.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was signed on July 9, 1984.
* * *
This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission
on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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plans of action in the follow-up to the Beijing Conference, click here:
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Children and Youth
No information is available.
Indigenous People
No information is available.
Non-governmental Organizations
No information is available.
Local Authorities
No information is available.
Workers and Unions
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and ProjectsThe following measures have been taken in order to strengthen the role of workers and their trade unions: .
(i) The Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Advisory Council, a tripartite body, was established to advise and assist the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations in respect of matters affecting safety, health and welfare of persons at work. Meetings are held regularly.
(ii) At bipartite level, the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act from 1988 provides for the establishment of a Safety Health Committee at enterprise level for employers having more than 100 persons in their employment. The issues discussed at this Committee are monitored by officers of the Factory Inspectorate of this Ministry.
(iii) Systematic worksite inspections are being carried out by officers of the Factory Inspectorate Division so as to reduce occupational accidents and diseases at workplaces.
(iv) A Labour Information Centre has been set up within the Ministry to increase workers' education and training. Courses on subjects relating to occupational safety and health are being regularly held.
(v) A Workers Education Branch is in operation to impart, with the help of resource persons, adult workers education on a wide range of subjects geared to workers and their organisations being more alive to economic and social development.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
* * *
This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 4 June 1997
Business and Industry
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Policies are in place to increase the efficiency of resource use. A White Paper 'Les Assis
de L'Artisanat' has been prepared so as to increase the use of local resources. Two
enterprises have been given incentives for these activities.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The EPZDA is conducting programmes for waste reduction.
Status
About 20% of all big enterprises in the country have adopted sustainable development
policies. The term "sustainable development" has become widespread among the
business community; however, to reconcile the conflicting ends of rising costs and
environmental protection, enterprises are maintaining hesitating attitudes.
In Mauritius the production processes in most enterprises is mostly pollution free, except for dye-houses.
The production system in Mauritius involves the use of imported resources and materials, as the country is not endowed with natural resources.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
UNIDO has proposed its assistance to Mauritius to implement a programme for sustainable
development through "application of economic incentives for internalisation of
environmental costs".
Cooperation
No information is available.
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This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 4 June 1997
Scientific and Technological Community
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
The scientific community has already established ways in which to address the general
public and deal with sustainable development.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
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Farmers
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Since a few years the existing extension service has been reorganised to provide a better
support to the community of small farmers. Wherever possible, participation of farmers is
ensured through PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) in determining the nature of their
problems so that the service becomes client-oriented and driven by actual demand. Areas of
special concern are effects of pesticides in the environment, excessive use of chemicals
for pest control, air pollution, pollution arising from animal production activities, safe
disposal of animal wastes, pollution effects of fire in sugarcane fields.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
Special attention is given to women, particularly in the dairy sector. Attention is also
given to youth programmes.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
Wherever possible, biological methods are being researched and introduced (e.g. diamond
back moth in crucifers). Concern for the environment, proper sanitation and recycling of
wastes ( eg. biogas production) are emphasised in farmer education programmes. Organic
methods of crop production is also practised on a small scale.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
* * *
This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission
on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 4 June 1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI) is involved in sugar cane
research. The Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC) is involved in research in
agriculture, fisheries and food production. The Mauritius Research Council (MRC) promotes
research and development in scientific, technological, social and economic activities.
Information Technology Institutes like the National Computer Board, the Central
Informatics Bureau and State Informatics Ltd promote information technology in various
sectors. The Technology Development Project promotes diffusion of up-to-date technology
practices to industries.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
No information is available.
The University of Mauritius expanded in order to increase its intake of students. The
Mauritius Institute of Education provides training of teachers. The Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology promotes scientific knowledge and the study of sciene. The Ministry
of Human Resources, Development and Reform Institutions implements vocational, technical
and other training programmes to have trained manpower for industrial, services and other
sectors.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
* * *
This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 4 June 1997
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available.
Status
Availability of sustainable development information at the national level
Agenda 21 Chapters |
Very good |
Good |
Some good data but many gaps |
Poor |
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| 2. | International cooperation and trade | X |
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| 3. | Combating poverty | X |
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| 4. | Changing consumption patterns | X |
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| 5. | Demographic dynamics and sustainability | X |
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| 6. | Human health | X |
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| 7. | Human settlements | X |
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| 8. | Integrating E & D in decision-making | X |
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| 9. | Protection of the atmosphere | X |
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| 10. | Integrated planning and management of land resources | X |
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| 11. | Combating deforestation | X |
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| 12. | Combating desertification and drought | X |
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| 13. | Sustainable mountain development | X |
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| 14. | Sustainable agriculture and rural development | X |
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| 15. | Conservation of biological diversity | X |
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| 16. | Biotechnology | X |
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| 17. | Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources | X |
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| 18. | Freshwater resources | X |
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| 19. | Toxic chemicals | X |
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| 20. | Hazardous wastes | X |
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| 21. | Solid wastes | X |
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| 22. | Radioactive wastes | X |
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| 24. | Women in sustainable development | X |
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| 25. | Children and youth | X |
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| 26. | Indigenous people | X |
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| 27. | Non-governmental organizations | X |
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| 28. | Local authorities | X |
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| 29. | Workers and trade unions | X |
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| 30. | Business and industry | X |
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| 31. | Scientific and technological community | X |
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| 32. | Farmers | X |
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| 33. | Financial resources and mechanisms | X |
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| 34. | Technology, cooperation and capacity-building | X |
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| 35. | Science for sustainable development | X |
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| 36. | Education, public awareness and training | X |
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| 37. | International cooperation for capacity-building | X |
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| 38. | International institutional arrangements | X |
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| 39. | International legal instruments | X |
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| 40. | Information for decision-making | X |
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Challenges
No information is available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
* * *
This information is based on Mauritius' submission to the 5th Session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997. Last update: 1 April 1997
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INTERNATIONAL LAW
No information is available.
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