Luxury Indian Ocean LUXURY INDIAN OCEAN #9 EDITION 2019 - 2020 | Page 30

A citizens' initiative
During one of my recent hikes in Rodrigues,
my guide Ivan confided that he would
like to create a movement amongst young
people for the protection of endemic plants.
His logic is simple – teenagers would help
themselves by walking and hiking, and at
the same time help the island by removing
invasive species.
There are many Rodriguans like Ivan.
Civic duty in Rodrigues goes hand in
hand with a desire to protect their natural
environmental heritage, as the inhabitants
know that the island’s economy depends
on its lagoons, which abound with fish,
and its beautiful countryside. To quote
Vassen Kauppaymootoo, an environmental
engineer and oceanographer, “Environment
preservation is their gift, which shall
guarantee their future. And they have clearly
understood this.”
Going green together
Whether they are grassroots movements
or part of a network, there are many
associations in Rodrigues working for the
protection of the environment. While, the
aim of Ter-mer Rodriguez is to promote
sustainable development, others have
been subsidised since 2017 for projects
undertaken within the framework of the
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Programme (ICZM) – notably the
Mauritius Wildlife Foundation for the
restoration of the Anse Quitor Nature
Reserve and the Association des Pêcheurs de
Mourouk for the rehabilitation of Var Brûlé
drainage basin.
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© Florence Guillemain
The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and
Switch Africa Green have committed to the
protection of Rodrigues’ natural heritage,
investing in these initiatives as well as in
their own projects. For example, Switch
Africa Green helps fund the Agricultural
Training Centre Frère Rémi, where
teenagers for whom the educational system
hasn’t worked, receive vocational training. A
former pupil, Clifford Spéville, tells us that
students are taught organic farming practices
and how to create a farming model that is
sustainable. These young Rodriguans will
one day be able to contribute to the growth
of green agriculture on the island.
Responsible hospitality
Tourism in Rodrigues is still in its infancy
but its stakeholders are aiming to do things
properly. The Cocotiers Hotel has just
installed a desalination plant that is able to
meet its daily requirements in water. “This
French machine is a world first”, manager
Alain Paillusseau told me. “It runs off 70
solar panels without any need for a battery”.
One of the attractions of nearby Bakwa
Lodge is its décor, created by Rodriguan
artisans from discarded material. There are
indigenous plants scattered here and there
in what is an eco-lodge, which doesn’t
serve buffets in order to avoid food waste,
uses its own compost and buys seasonal
local produce. More, there is no swimming
pool nor a television set, as well as little
lighting in the evenings in order to conserve
energy – with the result that the sight of the
stars over the Indian Ocean is even more
impressive!
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L’éco-village de Rivière Cocos
Poubelles de tri, vélos électriques, champ
photovoltaïque communautaire, biodigesteurs
pour la production de biogaz, centre de
traitement des eaux usées… Rivière Coco
est, à petite échelle, la ville rurale du futur.
Conjointement financé par la Commission
de l’océan Indien et l’Assemblée régionale, le
projet a de quoi inspirer le reste de l’île… et
de l’océan Indien !
The Rivière Cocos' eco-village
Waste-sorting bins, electric bicycles, a
communal photovoltaic array, biodigesters
for the production of biogas… On a small
scale, Rivière Cocos is what rural towns of
the future may look like. Co-financed by the
Indian Ocean Commission and the Regional
Assembly, the project provides inspiration for
the rest of the island – and indeed the Indian
Ocean region!