FORENA alongside Friends of the Environment(FOE) are currently running the 'Restoration and Valorisation of the Citadel of Port Louis' project, under the Tourism Authority, with a team of experts comprised of architects, historians, archaeologists, and ecologists of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), that envisages the historical restoration and valorisation of the Citadel heritage to be used for tourism, education and leisure purposes.

FOE  has been active in the organisation of environmentally important conferences and seminars. They have renovated and now assume management of the Martello Tower Museum and, through the Heritage Trust, continue the rehabilitation of cemeteries. Members have been participating on many committees for the environment over the years. 

MWF works for the conservation and preservation of the nation's endangered plant and animal species. They collaborate with local and international partners, with the long-term aim of recreating lost ecosystems by saving some of the rarest species from extinction and restoring the native forests. 

The city established a large-scale land readjustment program under the reconstruction plan. The city designated almost all replotting area by the end of 1949. The readjustment contributed re-definition of the border of land plots that became blur in the war-devastated areas and supported quick reconstruction of the city. As the result of readjustment, the ratio of the city’s public assets were significantly increased: road areas by 2.12 times (2.36 times in the urban center); public parks by 3.07 times; total areas for cemeteries by 1.30 times; and station squares by 5.25 times. The readjustment project continued until 1998 and during the rapid industrialization around 1960, land adjustment became an effective way to prevent uncontrolled sprawl into the suburbs. The city extended its urban boundaries by merging the surrounding towns and villages and conducted replotting to accommodate the increasing population.

Remarkably, the city’s postwar restoration efforts began only one month after the war ended in August 1945. To begin with, the city regulated new housing developments since many temporary dwellings were arbitrarily constructed in burned-down areas. In June 1946, the city drew up a postwar reconstruction plan covering 4,400 ha of urbanized area, and moved forward with it immediately. The prompt implementation of the plan led to different results from other cities. Although retrenchment in 1949 by the national government resulted in reconstruction plans being cut in many other cities, Nagoya’s plan was not significantly influenced because the city had already executed 90% of the process to replot temporary land. Notably, 16 “One-hundred-meter roads” (roads with a 100 meter width) were planned across the country, but only three roads – two in Nagoya and one in Hiroshima - were actually built. Nagoya achieved remarkable recovery and growth; the total area of the city doubled and the population exceeded 1 million, merely five years after the war.

Decentral manufacturing and dissemination of energy efficient improved cook stoves (ICS) was supported including the development & testing of even more efficient, cleaner and safer combustion technologies.

The stoves save ~1,600 t of charcoal p.a., worth a total of EUR 187,500 or EUR 15 per household (which corresponds to a 25% drop in expenditure). Alternative sources of energy such as LPG are tested. Retailers and end consumers receive information and advice, partly in the context of public-private partnerships.

A women’s association (15 members) was created to promote the use of ICS in households. It focuses on educating households about the environmental and health hazards associated with traditional stoves & benefits of ICS. Most of the established ICS production sites and selling points are run by women. A panel comprising 150 households has been established to monitor annually the consumption pattern as well as the adoption rate of ICS. To date, around 12,500 families (about 30% of all households in Diego) use ICS. Instead of 117 kg/pers./yr., the households only consume 89 kg/pers./yr of charcoal.

The “Green Charcoal Chain” concept responds to structural market distortions by guaranteeing producers (as members of local trade cooperatives) higher purchase prices for sustainably sourced charcoal. Specially established rural markets enable producers to sell wood fuel and charcoal exclusively with a proof of origin. The “Charbon Vert” label documents that labelled products have been certified against verifiable standards.

The direct cost of afforestation amounts to EUR 225/ha, of which farmers contribute about one third through their own labour. The remaining 65% are subsidised. Measures to formalize wood energy markets include penalty surcharges for illegally/non-sustainably sourced products, differentiated fees and charges (levied on transport, conversion and trade) as well as the further promotion of public-private partnerships.

Improved traditional kilns and high performance retorts such as the stationary “GreenMad Dome retort” were introduced. The retort has a proven efficiency rate of more than 30% compared to traditional kilns. The internal rate of return (4,500 €/unit) exceeds 40%, a 3 times higher output. New climate-friendly kilns with methane recycling cut carbonisation time from 7 days to 72 hours. Micro credit services were provided by local microfinance agencies (OTIV) and the use of alternative fuels such as chips, briquettes and pellets were demonstrated.

Forest owners and charcoalers organised themselves as shareholder groups, create a registered micro-enterprise to invest and run the retort, and commercialise the produce on the basis of a rural energy market.

The business plan of the established company is based on the plantation management plan. Producers pay duties to the commune & taxes to the region. Several rural energy markets join forces to establish an urban charcoal market and facilitate traceability by creating a “green value chain”. Economic returns increased by ~30% compared to traditional marketing structures.

Planting of fast growing trees is coupled with training of personnel for managing nurseries and forests according to fixed quality standards.

Each plot is demarcated, mapped, and documented with the communities’ approval. Technical assistance is provided by specially trained NGOs in 21 months period: (i) awareness raising and social mobilisation (3 mos.); training, planning & implementation (8 mos.); self-management (10 mos.).

Choice of tree species was based on: short rotation cycles (4-7 years), resistance against climatic fluctuation, suitability for machine processing, especially on slopes, and their potential to contribute to erosion control. GIZ provided technical and administrative support on equipment and seeds needed. Woodlots were successfully planted as buffer zones around protected areas and mangroves. Further important sites for planting are watercourses and corridors on the routes of migrating fauna. Local residents now extract their wood supplies from the plantations.

Nursery operations are collectively organised; plantation and maintenance are the plantation owners’ responsibility.