As early as the 1950’s, Malcolm de Chazal, our famous Mauritian thinker, and painter shared these words about the sad state of affairs in the country
“And our land is losing its alluvium through erosion. With every rainfall, in the absence of forests, the sea turns red (…) Hundreds of thousands of tons of soil go into the sea. Soon nature will refuse to work for us (…) It is no longer a question of looking on and letting ourselves live. Thinking now becomes imperative and will be an act of life or death. (…) there is a committee for monuments but when will we have a committee for the protection of trees?
Malcolm de Chazal was ahead of his time. Like him, we must take a forward-looking approach. Reforestation for land and river rehabilitation is part of the solution – to protect from soil erosion, land degradation, and sedimentation accumulation in the lagoon. This helps to promote a healthier marine ecosystem in our lagoons.
On Friday 20 August, together with fifty stakeholders from the community, we planted around a hundred endemic trees on the banks of Rivière-Jacotet. A first step but a highly symbolic gesture that highlights the unwavering commitment of the Rogers Foundation, to plant the seeds of sustainability in Bel Ombre and in the country at large.
Reforestation acts as a biodiversity booster. Leveraging on our Ridge to Reef approach, we are working to create a corridor between the National Parks and the coastal zone in Bel Ombre, allowing migration of species and endemic birds. We are privileged custodians of a beautiful natural sanctuary that encompasses land and sea in Bel Ombre and must therefore play our part in restoring it to its pristine state.
Mauritius being a biodiversity hotspot, we must actively work with all stakeholders (NGOs, Economic partners, and Government) to preserve the precious biodiversity that we have been entrusted with. Ecological balance is fragile. It requires collective efforts and a coordinated action plan that sets forth the ecological goals of our nation, if not the whole planet.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb.
