UNDP Organizes Training for Sustainable Land Management in Mauritius

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has initiated a series of training workshops aimed at promoting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in Mauritius and Rodrigues. These workshops are part of a broader project that seeks to combat land degradation by encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices across production landscapes.

The training sessions, organized in collaboration with the Forestry Services—an implementing partner of the project—commenced on December 10, with a focus on integrating gender perspectives and safeguards into land management strategies.

This was followed by a two-day training session from December 11 to 12, centered on monitoring land degradation.

Participants in the workshops included representatives from various government ministries, district councils, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector, all working together to enhance land management practices in the region.

The Sustainable Land Management Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is executed by the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries through its Forestry Service, with UNDP’s support.

The project aims to strengthen the policy and institutional framework necessary for sustainable land management, while also developing skills, tools, and incentives to implement best practices.

Additionally, it places a strong emphasis on improving knowledge management and gender mainstreaming in these efforts.

In the first workshop, which lasted one day, participants engaged in capacity-building exercises focused on gender and safeguards.

The goal was to increase their ability to incorporate gender considerations across policies, programs, and projects.

Topics included understanding gender concepts, identifying and analyzing gender inequalities in land access and management, and discussing the roles of women in agriculture.

The training guided stakeholders in recognizing the restrictions women face concerning land ownership and the differing cultural responses to land disputes.

Furthermore, a comprehensive session on safeguard mainstreaming was conducted, emphasizing the need to integrate environmental and social safeguards throughout the project lifecycle.

Key objectives included promoting the safety and rights of individuals, respecting local customs, and avoiding adverse economic impacts on communities.

Discussions also covered risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

The subsequent two-day workshop was dedicated to land degradation monitoring, which involves systematically observing and measuring changes in land conditions over time.

This aspect of training is crucial, as it allows authorities to identify areas suffering from degradation—often linked to activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices.

Participants were trained on various land degradation indices and equipped with the skills necessary to effectively monitor and manage these issues.

Hands-on exercises were included to familiarize stakeholders with remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools vital for monitoring land conditions.

Participants learned to use several open-access tools, including QGIS, Google Earth, Collect Earth, and the Ex-Ante Carbon-balance Tool (Ex-ACT), enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings.

Looking ahead, as part of ongoing capacity development efforts, the UNDP plans to replicate these training programs in Rodrigues in 2025, ensuring they are tailored to meet local needs and contexts.

Source: UNDP Mauritius-Seychelles