PAMPLEMOUSSES, (MAURITIUS) – Mauritius’ Agro-Industry Minister, Mahen Seeruttun on Tuesday said legislation and policies will be reviewed to better control the felling of trees.
Speaking at the launch of a tree-planting campaign at Pamplemousses, northern Mauritius, Seeruttun said his ministry would supply over 200,000 plants for planting all around the island.
The minister, however, encouraged land owners to plant more trees in order to preserve the island’s natural ecosystems.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
“Much more still needs to be done in terms of sensitisation and education to make people understand the values and importance of trees.
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“’We will put in place a permanent progamme of re-afforestation to increase the forest cover in the island as our environment faces a number of threats and challenges and calls for strong actions,’’ he stressed.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
He explained that tree planting and re-afforestation have become a priority for many countries.
“It is reported that about 13 million hectares of tropical forests are destroyed each year.
“This area is some 70 times the size of Mauritius,’’ he noted.
PANA reports that Mauritius, a Small Island Developing State, has a fragile ecosystem that is left with less than 2 per cent of its native forests.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
The island is classified as a biodiversity hotspot by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Convention on Biological Diversity in view of its unique endemic fauna and flora. (PANA/NAN)
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