Mauritius Launches 1-Month Forest Conservation Training for 15 Experts

On June 24, at Ebony Forest in Chamarel, Mauritius, a new training program was launched to strengthen the conservation of island biodiversity. The event marks a key step in a regional capacity-building project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). This initiative aims to boost the role of civil society organizations in protecting biodiversity across the western Indian Ocean, a region highly vulnerable to climate change.

The event brought together trainers from Madagascar and the Comoros, along with representatives from the European Union, the French Development Agency (AFD), and FORENA. It kicked off a month-long training focused on forest restoration, a critical activity for preserving local ecosystems.

The event was supported by Mauritius’s President Owen Griffiths, General Manager Christine Griffiths, and Nicolas Zuël, contributing to its success.

This project is part of a series of CEPF-funded efforts running from 2016 to 2026. Since 2016, nearly $600,000 USD has been invested in restoring native forests, conserving threatened species, and raising environmental awareness.

These efforts aim to protect the island’s unique biodiversity, which is vital for ecosystem health and climate resilience.

Forests host over 80% of the land-based biodiversity and are key to fighting climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, stabilizing local climates, protecting water sources, and reducing extreme weather impacts like floods and droughts.

The training program received 61 applications for one-month placements.

Out of these, 15 participants from Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles were selected to deepen their skills in forest management, bird translocation, and invasive species control.

The goal is to build local capacity for nature-based adaptation strategies.

By addressing the root causes of habitat degradation, these initiatives support biodiversity conservation and provide tangible benefits to local communities.

Forest restoration and conservation are crucial tools for creating a more resilient future for these vulnerable island territories.

Source: l’Express