Dead planet, living planet

CASE STUDY #30

Forest habitat restoration on Ile Aux Aigrettes, Mauritius

One of the early pilot sites for this approach was Central Java in Indo- nesia. Mangroves of the Pemalang District in Central Java fell prey to extensive development of shrimp culture in the 1980s, as was the trend in entire Southeast Asia. However, spread of disease led to rapidly de- clining productivity and ultimately abandoning of shrimp ponds by the investors, leaving behind completely devastated mangrove belts. Rec- ognizing these challenges, a local NGOMitra Bahiri, facilitated by Wet- lands International and District Forest Agency initiated amangrove res- toration programme in late 1990s. In 1998, Biorights was introduced as an implementation approach. Community groups were formed and mangrove restoration plans were developed by these groups, which in- cluded identification of appropriate species and locations. Appropriate livelihood programmes were also selected by the communities based on development needs and local feasibility. Bioright contracts were de- veloped with respective community groups. Intensive implementation support was provided in the form of technical expertise, capacity build- ing and adaptation based on local conditions. Monitoring performed by local communities and local programme manager demonstrated survival rates well above 75% upon termination of the contract period, leading to conversion of all grants to definitive payments. Approxi- mately 10 years after planting of the first seedling, the mangroves have grown into impressive heights of 4 – 8 meters. Number of commercial fish species has increased from 2 to 6. Slow land accretion is being observed. Local communities have also benefitted tremendously. In- crease in household incomes and decrease in vulnerability have been recorded. Access to physical and financial capital has also increased. Although Biorights contracts have ended in 2005, communities have continued with rehabilitation since then. Convinced of the benefits of restoration, the groups still meet to discuss restoration plans and have undertaken more ponds for rehabilitation. When the Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004 badly hit the coastal areas of Sumatra, Wetlands International replicated the experi- ences of Java to restore mangroves in Aceh Province. Until June 2009, nearly 1000 hectares of coastal area has been rehabilitated (with an average seedling survival rate of around 83% or 1.66 million of the 2 millions planted) through the planting of mangrove and beach vegeta- tion in Aceh and Nias. In the long run, this project will also contribute to the demand for climate change mitigation and adaptation and in re- turn will leverage long-term improvements of local coastal ecosystem and ensuring long-term sustainability community livelihoods.

Managed and leased by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), Ile aux Aigrettes is a 25-hectare island just off the southeast coast of mainland Mauritius that contains the last remnant of Mauritian coastal ebony forest. Exotic plant and animal species had driven the ecosystem to the brink of extinction by the 1980s, and it was then that MWF be- gan its ongoing restoration program. Initial interventions included the removal of non-native plant species, revegeta- tion with nursery-reared seedlings, and the eradication of rats, cats and mongooses. Several endemic and critically endangered species were subsequently reintroduced to the island, and diligent monitoring has reflected steadily increasing populations. Besides helping to conserve ir- replaceable resources and safeguard Mauritius’s natural heritage, MWF’s work on Ile aux Aigrettes has made signifi cant contributions to local livelihoods. Activities directly as- sociated with the restoration effort have afforded employ- ment and training opportunities, and the development and promotion of ecotourism on the newly restored island has generated additional income for local communities.

Source: Personal Communication Pieter van Eijk, Wetlands International; Nyoman Suryadiputra, Wetlands International – Indonesia Programme

Source: SER, 2010 http://www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/data- base/case-study/?id=265

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