ENVIRONMENT | “Nu Lakot Nu Lavwa” Citizen mobilization in Flic-en-Flac around the GICZ

Anfani Msoili (COI): “Nu Lakot Nu Lavwa is based on the participation of all, the voice of all, which must be listened to.” Kavish Pattoo (Beach Authority): “Today we are presenting Beach Etiquette, our new initiative for responsible and respectful use of our beaches.”

The public beach of Flic en Flac hosted last Saturday the first day of citizen mobilization Nu Lakot Nu Lavwa, organized by the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) as part of the Resilience of Populations and Coastal Ecosystems of the South West project. the Indian Ocean (RECOS). Bringing together residents, young people, fishermen, associations, artists, experts, institutional representatives and committed stakeholders of the territory, this initiative aimed to place citizens at the heart of reflections on the future of the Mauritian coast. The RECOS project is a regional initiative of the IOC, supported by the Agency Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM). Nu Lakot Nu Lavwa, an event co-organized by RECOS and the Dynamia – Indian Ocean Islands Foundation (IOIF) consortium, aimed to raise awareness among the various stakeholders in coastal zones about Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), by encouraging a more inclusive governance of marine and coastal spaces. Anfani Msoili, project manager for ecological and energy transition, tourism and migration at the IOC, explains: “Nu Lakot Nu Lavwa illustrates this evolution of coastal management approaches in the region. It is based on the participation of all, the voice of all, which must be listened to and which must also be accompanied by individual actions such as communities, the private sector, scientists, young people, decision-makers and, of course, local communities. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the consortium made up of Dynamia and Indian Ocean Islands Foundation (IOIF), shows that there is today in Mauritius a strong desire to build collective, inclusive and sustainable responses to climate and environmental challenges. Beyond raising awareness, âNu Lakot Nu Lavwaâ contributes to creating a true culture of shared governance of coastal areas, where everyone becomes an actor in the preservation and enhancement of coastal spaces. Aside, Philippe Phan, deputy director of AFD Mauritius and Seychelles, partner, adds that: “In Mauritius, issues linked to the coastline have become very concrete. Coastal erosion, pressure on natural resources, evolution of uses, effects of climate change: these are subjects that directly affect territories and populations. In this context, it seems important to us that the solutions are not only thought of from a technical angle. The inhabitants, the communities, the