Mauritius - Land-based coral culture for restoration, conservation and education
EU contribution : 999 326 euros (95% of the project)
Implementing period: 01/03/2024 – 28/02/2029
Implementing partners : Reef Conservation Mauritius – Partnership with Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels
Le Morne + other sites to be determined
Description
- To contribute to save corals from local extinction, Reef Conservation will vreate a land-based coral sanctuary (LBCS) for restoration, conservation, and education purposes.
- The action will comprise the setting up of an operational land-based coral sanctuary for the culture of rare/locally threatened coral species, which will be the first of this kind in Mauritius.
- Coral restoration will be undertaken within earmarked conservation sites with the assistance of community members.
- The land-based coral sanctuary facility, which will be partly financed by a private sector group, namely Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, will also be used as a centre for awareness raising and education purposes.
Specific objectives and outputs
- Survey the lagoons of Mauritius to identify coral biodiversity hotspots.
- Establish Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs) to help protect and conserve coral biodiversity hotspots.
- Set up a Land-Based Coral Sanctuary (LBCS) for propagation of rare coral species.
- Establish a proper coral collection and monitoring plan for donor coral colonies.
- Acclimatise corals prior to transplantation to earmarked restoration sites.
- Undertake coral restoration actions at VMCA sites.
- Raise awareness and empower participants through a Citizen Science approach.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
Mauritius
Ongoing
Environment and Climate change
Coral reef, marine biodiversity, environment, climate change, education