by
Ministry of Environment &Sustainable Development
in collaboration with
Ministry of Agro-Industry & Food Security
Ministry of Fisheries
Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund
Earth Day 2014
 Earth Day- annual event celebrated on April
22 in more than 190 countries to
demonstrate support for environmental
protection. This year’s global theme is:
“Green Cities.”
 To mark this event in Mauritius, the
MOESDis engaging the public at large in
tree planting for a cleaner, healthier and
greener environment.
Activities proposed
 Among the activities proposed in the context of Earth Day
2014:
(i) Launching of a campaign “Un enfant, Une Plante” at the
Rabindranath Tagore Secondary School Ilot Pamplemousses
on the 23 April 2014. The event will be marked by a tree
planting ceremony, the distribution of plants to students and
staff of the school and community members.
(ii) Planting of 500 Flamboyant trees on the Signal
Mountain.
(ii) To conduct 7 regional “Training of Trainers” half-day
workshops on tree planting in the 7 community centre
zones with representatives of community centres, village
councils and municipal councils.
Importance of trees and forests
 Trees are vital for our survival. They give us oxygen,
store carbon, stabilise the soil and support wildlife.
 Trees are the largest and longest living organisms on
Earth. They are the world’s single largest source of
oxygen.
 Trees and forests offer us with a wide range of
environmental, social and economic benefits.
Environmental Benefits
 Maintain balance of oxygen in the atmosphere.
 Trees combat climate change as they absorb carbon
dioxide, hence combat greenhouse effect. Over the
course of its life a single tree can absorb about 1 ton of
CO2.
 Prevent soil erosion as their roots hold the soil in place.
 Provide important habitats for numerous bird, insect
and animal species.
Social Benefits
 Provide beauty with attractive landscape.
 Provide cool areas for recreation and relaxation such as
playgrounds and parks.
 Trees act as sound barrier and mitigate noise, can
reduce noise pollution by as much as 40 percent.
 Trees have medicinal uses:
 Neem Tree - antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory;
Eucalyptus Tree - very effective in the treatment of
coughs, sore throats and asthma.
Economic Benefits
 Shading and evaporative cooling from trees can cut
residential air-conditioning costs 20-50%.
 Can save up to 30% of energy, thus utility company
uses less energy which result to less fuel consumption.
 Forests provide timber, wood, pulp, medicines, fruits
and food.
 Forests serve as destination for ecotourism and
recreation.
Tree Planting
 In line with budget 2014 and as part of its endeavour
for a ‘Clean and Green Mauritius’, the MOESD in
collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry & FS
and other stakeholders has embarked on a ‘Tree
Planting for Clean Air Campaign’ with a target to plant
some 200 000 trees throughout the island by 2015.
Objectives of the campaign
 Embellish Mauritius for a more beautiful and greener
landscape.
 Improve our air quality for a healthy environment.
 Connect us with nature and reinforce our cultural and
spiritual values.
Poster on ‘Une Famille, Une Plante’
Brochure on ‘Une Famille, Une Plante’
Some tips to protect your
environment
 Participate in activities to make our island clean and
green.
 Plant trees (promote endemic and threatened species).
 Do not cut or uproot trees.
 Promote planting and the use of medicinal plants
(decrease the use of chemically produced
pharmaceuticals).
 Compost your green wastes.
Projects in schools
1. Endemic Garden Project
2. Tree Planting Project
Endemic garden Project
 Launched in 2010 to mark the international year of
biodiversity
 Help youngsters to understand the term ‘endemic’.
 Sensitisation campaign in all primary and secondary
schools with distribution of toolkit, brochure, poster
and CDs on endemic garden.
 2010-2013: 144 gardens were created and sensitisation
carried out in 129 schools.
Resource Materials Developed
Tookit
DVD
Poster
Brochure
School
Endemic
Garden
Project
Endemic Plants
Bottle Palm
Hibiscus
Bois de natte
Tree planting Project
 Project on tree planting launched during Earth day –
April 2013.
 297 schools participated in the project.
 Some 2700 endemic plants have been planted
(about 10 trees/school).
 Endemic plants obtained from Forestry Service.
Trees
 “It is the little things citizen do. That’s what will make
the difference. My little thing is planting trees.”
 Wangari Maathai (1940-2011)
 Founder of Green Belt Movement and 2004 Noble Peace Prize Laureate
THANK YOU
for your attention