Mauritius - Environment



The main environmental problems facing Mauritius are water pollution, soil erosion, and preservation of its wildlife. The sources of water pollution are sewage and agricultural chemicals. Mauritius cities produce 0.1 million tons of solid waste annually. The erosion of the soil occurs through deforestation.

The Ministry of Housing, Lands, and the Environment has principal responsibility in environmental matters. As of 2001, only about 1.8% of the nation's total land area is protected. According to UN reports, Mauritius ranked third in the world on the list of countries with the most endangered species in the mid-1990s. In 2002, there were 44 extinct species. As of the mid-1990s, 3 of Mauritius' mammal species and 10 of its bird species were endangered, as well as 269 of its plant species.

Endangered species on the island of Mauritius include the pink pigeon, Round Island boa and keel-scaled boa, green sea turtle, and Mauritius varieties of kestrel, parakeet, and fody. Endangered species on Rodrigues include distinctive varieties of brush warbler, fody, flying fox, and day gecko. Extinct species include the Mauritian duck, the Mauritius blue pigeon, the red rail, Rodrigues little owl, and the giant day gecko.

Also read article about Mauritius from Wikipedia

User Contributions:

1
Hannah
This article is great for school use. I find it very useful; if it was not for this article I would fail my class.
2
Jessica
The article is useful..much information given but could have been prolonged. many thanks.
3
Michelle
I have recently visited Mauritius and was very shocked to see that large hotels / leisure complexes / golf courses seem to have totally taken over the coastline. Considering that there is an issue regarding water shortages and pollution, I don't really see how allowing golf courses (and so many of them) on the island can possibly be envioronmentally justified!
I was also very shocked and disappointed about the quality and appearance of the beaches (mostly the public ones). Due to the fact that large hotels have taken over the coastline -ordinary folk have less space to enjoy the natural beauty of the beaches - the beaches and surrounding areas are littered and unsightly ...not the Mauritius that I used to know and love...and certainly not the Mauritius of the tourist trade. I believe that if this policy of placing profit over the environment and people continues - in the next ten years people will stop going to Mauritius and then what will the government do with all those empty hotels and polluted beaches?
4
Simon
This reoport is really helpful, im doing country research in my school and i picked mauritius. One of the factors was environment, and not only am i learning stuff but its really interesting! thanks!
Hello MAURITIUS! Well i'm proud to say that i live in mauritius when i go abroad. Because mauritius is known as an ideal country and for its peace. But the percentage of tourist coming to mauritius is decreasing.I think its a shame for us. We should improve our standard and status worldwide and maintain it by protecting our environment.Wishing u all the best for the coming hygienic mauritius.LIVE LONG MAURITIUS !!!
6
bibi nabeela
Hello ...being a mauritian citizen am very sad to know that mauritius is facing extinction...
i just hope the government do the necessity to keep down the rate of extinction...
This article really helped me with my school work.. I agree with Hannah, if it was not for this article I would have failed my school assignment. I was looking everywhere for Mauritian issues, as I am assigned this country to work with for the rest of the year, I couldn't find it anywhere! Then I came along this article and solved ALL my problems. Many thanks to you.
to keshavee.
its not because of our environment that the % of tourism decreased last year.it was because of the financial crisis in europe and other parts of the world
9
diana
HI! I'm Diana from Kenya and am so much in love with your country and would love to come and work there. I'm an environmentalist by profession and would be happy to work with you in trying to sort out your environmental issues so that the public and tourist can enjoy their stay in Mauritius!!
10
yeshna
Hi I'm a Mauritian.this article is really interesting.thanks for these information.but its true hat Mauritius is facing extinction and its beauty is being lost.Its really sad as we should preserve its beauty and not destroy.Thanks again for these informations.
11
Peyoushadevi Gomanee
Hi,I'm peyousha.This article is really interesting.Thnks for these interesting ideas which has helped me a lot in my GP Essays.
12
arti raghoobur
hi am arti,its very amazing for me as it helps me a lot in doing my research for my journalism course
13
SHARMA
i GREW UP IN MAURITIUS AND I HAVE SEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR LAGOONS, CLEAN RIVERS, AND THE COASTLINE COVERED WITH THICK GREEN BELTS. THE BEACHES WERE NOT LITTERED WITH DISPOSED NAPPIES AND PLASTIC DISPOSABLES. IN A MATTER OF ABOUT 30 YEARS SO MUCH PROTECTED AREAS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ROADS, HABITATIONS, AND HEAVY CONSTRUCTIONS. I SUPPOSE THE OBJECTIVES OF REFORESTATION AND GREEN BELTS PROTECTION, INCLUDING BEACH HYGIENE NEED TO BE IMPOSED BY GOVERNEMENTAL AUTHORITIES. LOCAL PEOPLE NEED TO BE MADE AWARE ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, OVERCONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION. iF IT WAS NOT FOR MY ANCESTRAL ATTACHMENT, I DO NOT THINK I WOULD COME TO SPEND HOLIDAYS IN MAURITIUS ANYMORE BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING TO BE ENJOYED ABOUT. MAURITIUS IS IS NOT THE HEAVENLY PLACE I USED TO KNOW. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND ALMOST VERY LATE
I agree with all those who commented, especially, Michelle and Sharma, on the sorry state of the once the "Star and key of the Indian Ocean". Mauritius needs to learn a tough lesson from European countries who really care about their environment. Europeans abide by the laws and take pride their countryside. In Switzerland, for example, the policy is to plant three trees if one is lost. There ought to be the same policy and hence education about how to care for some rare resources on the island. When I read about what causes pollution, there were two words stood out: "greed and ignorance". If the threat of pollution is not taken care of, there will be no forest left, just concrete jungle. Unfortunately, progress is not just cutting down forest and building skycrapers without future planning. Global warming is already threatening many countries with flood or drought, destruction with extinction of species. Trees attract rain and keep the cycle of weather pattern stable on our planet. The Shahara desert was once a forest which kept being cut down and there was no regeration. Mauritius should have more trees and shrubs planted and grass banks with strong wire mess laid at slopes to prevent landslides. If the laws of conservation and littering are not strictly followed, fines should be imposed. These fines could help improve, educate and regenerate the environment. But this should come from the top of any Mauritian government.
15
Marc
I just need to get a project done, and any more info on Mauritius would be AMAZING--This is a plead for help-- i'm a junior in high school and i really need this

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