A Marxan training on the Joint Management Area (JMA) is being held from 16 to 18 January by the Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration (CSMZAE) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme for experts of Mauritius and Seychelles. The training workshop was launched, yesterday morning, in presence of the Director General of the CSMZAE, Dr Rezah Badal, in Port-Louis.
The aim is to equip the participants with the basic skills, and knowledge to understand the needs of and use of Marxan with zoning tool. The workshop is being facilitated by the Australian Consultant, Mrs Madelaine Davey.
In his address, Dr Badal underlined that the training will enable participants to develop the spatial planning zone using previous and ongoing marine spatial planning efforts for the JMA. He indicated that they will also be familiarised on data needs, on how to create files to run Marxan, validate the inputs, run the tool, and how to analyze results.
As regards the Geographical Information System, the Director General stated that the training will guide participants on how to manipulate data using vector and how to operate the Marxan platform for better planning.
He spoke of the progress that has been achieved in various projects concerning JMA, namely the Monaco expedition, exploitation of sea cucumber, and the implementation of a legal framework for the JMA.
