Explore the need for enhanced environmental culture in Rodrigues which underscores the importance of addressing educational gaps, resource limitations, and the lack of comprehensive environmental stewardship initiatives to foster a more sustainable interaction between the community and their natural surroundings. Also highlighted is Rodrigues’s commitment to nurturing an environmentally conscious community, showcasing the strategic framework designed to promote eco-responsible behaviors among its citizens.
Current State, Challenges and Vision
In Rodrigues, enhancing environmental awareness and education about the benefits of ecosystem services is crucial for more effective community participation in conservation activities.
While there are challenges including logistical and financial constraints that affect the initiation of community-empowering environmental initiatives, there are opportunities for improvement. Similar to Mauritius, expanding the educational curriculum to include more comprehensive environmental practices could significantly foster pro-environmental behaviors among students and the broader community. Furthermore, there is a need for increased development of programmes that actively promote and support community involvement in environmental conservation and sustainability practices. Expanding the environmental content in educational programs can help instill a deeper understanding of and commitment to sustainable practices. Developing and funding more community-based initiatives can enhance local capacity for environmental management and conservation. Introducing more flexible and diverse strategies to adapt to economic and cultural changes can help promote environmental sustainability in the long term.
Rodrigues aims to develop a community of environmentally responsible citizens, termed 'Des Citoyens Eco-responsables', to foster sustainable living practices and greater environmental awareness.
Policy Framework and Strategic Actions
- The island has set out specific policy orientations to cultivate this culture of environmental responsibility. Detailed strategies and actions intended to achieve this goal are documented in Table below (RoM 2022), guiding the community towards more sustainable practices.
Policy orientation and related strategies for La Culture Environnementale in Rodrigues (2022) | ||
# | Policy Recommendation | Strategy |
1 | To set up a network including all related stakeholders for mass sensitisation of the population on environmental issues. |
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2 | To propose activities for reviewing and updating school curricula and promoting extracurricular activities to instil an environmental culture. |
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3 | To revisit policies of private, public and other institutions (schools, government, private bodies, SMEs, NGOs, and others) to encourage best environmental practices and celebration of world events such as World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, World Clean Up Day, Earth Day. |
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4 | To incentivise green initiatives by private entrepreneurs. |
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5 | To improve the competitiveness of green products and services. |
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