Coastal Infrastructure Protection Using Hard and Soft ...

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Coastal Infrastructure Protection Using Hard and Soft Engineering Technologies:

the case of Mauritius

Prakash (Sanju) Deenapanray, PhD

ELIA – Ecological Living In Action Ltd La Gaulette

Mauritius ([email protected])

Adaptation Futures, Rotterdam 10 May 2016

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Outline

1. Location of Mauritius • geography of island

• Socio-economic value of coastal activities

2. Results of Technology Needs

Assessment (TNA) – cursory view • Prioritised coastal adaptation technologies

3. Examples of hard and soft engineering

technologies for coastal infrastructure

protection

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Where is Mauritius? (20.17oS, 57.33oE)

Geography of Mauritius Volcanic with escarpments very

close to the coast (e.g South West Coast)

~320 km of coast line surrounded by coral reefs (mix of sandy and

rocky/muddy beaches)

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Socio-economic value of coastal activities

• Coastal areas contain 20% of population (~1.3 million)

• Rs 74 billion (~ US$ 2 billion) in revenue generated

directly from coastal zones (36% of GDP)

• 99% of this revenue is generated by tourism

• In 2015, tourist arrivals was 1,151,723

• ~93% of hotel guest capacity is found in coastal areas

• Total economic value of coastal areas is of the order of

Rs 1 trillion (~ US$ 28.5 billion)

(Sources: TNA Report (2012); Statistics Mauritius)

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Outline

1. Location of Mauritius • geography of island

• socio-economic value of coastal activities

2. Results of Technology Needs

Assessment (TNA) – cursory view • prioritised coastal adaptation technologies

3. Examples of hard and soft engineering

technologies for coastal infrastructure

protection

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1. To identify and prioritize through country-driven

participatory processes, technologies that can contribute to

mitigation and adaptation goals of the participant countries,

while meeting their national sustainable development goals

and priorities (TNA);

2. To identify the barriers that hinder the acquisition,

deployment, and diffusion of the prioritized technologies for

mitigation and adaptation; and

3. To develop Technology Action Plans (TAP) that specify

activities and enabling frameworks to overcome the

barriers and facilitate the transfer, adoption, and diffusion of

selected technologies in the participant countries

Technology Needs Assessment project (2012-2013)

1. Coastal vegetation restoration (soft)

2. Wetland protection (soft)

3. Dune restoration (hard & soft)

4. Rock revetment (hard)

Prioritised technologies for coastal adaptation

(Source: TNA Report (2012)

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Outline

1. Location of Mauritius • geography of island

• socio-economic value of coastal activities

2. Results of Technology Needs

Assessment (TNA) – cursory view • prioritised coastal adaptation technologies

3. Examples of hard and soft engineering

technologies for coastal infrastructure

protection

Rock revetment Coastal

vegetation (mangroves)

Setback & Restricted

beach access

Beach nourishment

Locations of coastal interventions (South West of Mauritius)

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Rock Revetment (Maconde)

Rock revetment (Le Morne / Maconde)

Restoration of coastal vegetation (community-based adaptation projects)

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Beach nourishment (La Preneuse)

Beach nourishment

Setback (>30 from HWM)

1970s (no EIA)

2010s (with EIA)

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Restricted access to vehicles on public beaches

Restricted access

ELIA – Ecological Living In Action Ltd

Thank You

Prakash (Sanju) Deenapanray [[email protected]]

www.EcoLivingInAction.com

Mob: +230 5924 3395