Forestry Service of Mauritius
| Vision of Forestry Service : to ensure a healthy forest environment that will satisfy the needs and aspirations of the present and future generations for goods and services derived from our forests in a sustainable manner. |
The core objectives of the Forestry Service include the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of the nation’s forest resources and the maintenance of forest ecosystem services through sustainable forest management while delivering socio-economic benefits. Its practical goals include:
Þ Improving the management, protection, rational use and diversification of our forest resources.
Þ Protecting the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in forests to ensure a continuous supply of clean and freshwater for domestic and other purposes;
Þ Preserving our rich heritage of native species of plants, birds and animals; and
Þ Developing facilities in our forests for leisure and recreation.
Mauritius has several conservation programmes aimed at restoring and preserving native forest ecosystems. These efforts are crucial given the island's high number of endemic species, many of which are threatened or endangered. Restoration projects often involve the removal of invasive plant species and the replanting of native flora.
Goals of the National Forestry Policy of 2006
Goal No. | Goal | Objectives: |
| 1: | To ensure sustainable development, management and protection of environmentally sensitive areas such as watersheds and to increase and regulate freshwater resources for all purposes and at all times in Mauritius and Rodrigues. |
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| 2: | To prevent further denudation of forest areas and increase the area under native tree cover. |
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| 3: | To reverse the process of degradation of biodiversity through habitat restoration using in-situ and where necessary, ex-situ conservation techniques. |
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| 4: | I. To contribute to the enhancement of the environment through increasing forest and tree cover. II. To ensure sustainable management of State-owned forestland leased for deer ranching. III. To encourage sustainable management of private forests opened up for deer ranching, taking into consideration legislation on property rights and environmentally sensitive areas. |
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| 5: | To promote inland ecotourism in order to diversify tourist services and encourage restoration of natural forests and biodiversity through effective participation of all the sectors concerned. |
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| 6: | To encourage planting of abandoned environmentally sensitive areas of sugarcane lands that could remain unutilized with the appropriate tree species. |
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Rehabilitation of Grande Riviere Nord Ouest River Reserves at State Land TakamakaPart of River Reserves of Grande Riviere Nord Ouest was rehabilitated by the Forestry Service in 2024 in line with the Forest and Reserves Act No. 41 of 1983 and National Forest Policy of 2006. This initiative aimed to mitigate land degradation and combat climate change by increasing tree cover and enhancing soil conservation along the riverbanks. The project also sought to improve the ecological value of the area while promoting its use as a green space for public recreation and leisure. .png) | .png) |
