Collaboration with Private sectors to enable sustainable financing
For the continuity of the project, we need sustainable finance. Forena is currently partnering with Lux* Resorts and Hotels, Kolos, Rotary clubs, PWC(PricewaterhouseCoopers), Abax, IBL Together(Ireland Blyth Limited), HSBC(Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited) and Porlwi by nature (Ciel Group). It feeds into the overarching project to regenerate the total 11 hectares of the mountain ecosystem.Tree planting and clean up events were done with those stakeholders and their employees. These activities support the revival of the ecosystem of Citadel and Petrin, the reduction of soil erosion and desertification and allow the connection with nature and healthy living. In this way, the stakeholders get to know how their money is being spent for the reforestation of Citadel and Petrin.They are contributing to the conservation and preservation of the native forests of Mauritius indirectly. Protecting nature should not only reflect the work of non-governmental organisation but also that of stakeholders involved which would not have been possible without them.
Make sure that regular meetings are done with the stakeholders and that they are able to hold grip of what has been done and what needs to be implemented on site.
Each stakeholder must have someone who represents them and who liaises with the non-governmental organisations because sometimes it becomes difficult when a meeting has to be set up due to different working schedules.
Good collaboration from partners due to their keen interest in working for the environment.
Set a formal relation with the stakeholders, explain to them the purpose and impacts of the project.
Organize activities for them on site followed by a briefing and demonstration.
Do a follow up by sending an activity report of their event and annual report for continuous partnerships in achieving full restoration of the native forest of Citadel and Petrin.
Reforestation activities by Non Governmental Organisations
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.
Proper communication between both teams (FORENA and FOE) since we are both working on the same project but on different assigned areas of Citadel.
The same technique is to be applied for tree planting. If one team has changed their methodology and use a more efficient one, then they pass on the information so that the other team can use the same method.
We share the same gardener but each team has their own equipments.
All the mentioned non-governmental organisations share the same aim which is to be able to have the full re scale restoration at Citadel and to be able to have a proper monitoring of the native forest of Petrin. Forena acts as the link between those organisations and stakeholders to allow continous collaboration for the nature of Mauritius.
There are several techniques which Forena has adopted from Friend of the Environment since they had the expertise of ecologists. For example we have started using gel which allows water and nutrients to be retained around the root base of the plants and also the water bottle technique which allows efficient watering.
There is always a good coordination mechanism between the organisations when there is a case of vandalism or fire outbreak.
Financial support by national government and schemes to reduce financial burden of local governments
Market Incentives for Social Capital Improvements
Accompanied by private redevelopment projects, the national government decided to restore the old redbrick building of Tokyo Station, initially built in 1912 and damaged by firebombing during World War II. While the symbolic building restoration was expected to have broader social and cultural benefits for the neighboring business districts, its project cost was estimated around JPY50 billion. In order to meet both social and commercial objectives, the site of Tokyo Station was extensively designated as a zone for the special FAR exemption and allowed to transfer the unused FARs from the historic redbrick building to the neighboring lots for new commercial tower developments. The station building restoration, partially financed by the FAR transfer revenues, was successfully completed in 2013 by a railway company, which also developed two 205-meter tall skyscrapers among the towers with extra FARs, and reinvested the increase in land value of the densified grade-A office buildings to cover the railway finance. To improve the district further, the current provision of a multimodal transportation square for regular bus and taxi services plans is to be completed by East Japan Railway Company in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2017.
Legislative and institutional requirements met to apply bonus FAR schemes
Finance mechanism to cover a vast amount of capital improvement cost through land value capture
Sound approach for land and property value assessment
Private redevelopment projects could meet both commercial and social objectives if market incentives are properly given for public capital improvements. In particular, the exemption and transfers of extra FARs should be designed not merely to increase short-term business profitability but rather to raise public funds for life cycle asset management.
Partnerships for increasing productivity and better financial management
Clearly-defined and mutually agreed relationship between Johor State government through J-Biotech and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in the Giant Clam project. Memoranda of understanding were signed twice during this partnership. The first phase of the Giant Clam Project (1998-2001) and phase two of the programme (2008-2011) has been succesfully carried out.
Partnerships for increasing productivity and better financial management are shown through J-Biotech as Johor states represantative to provide financial, conservation area and manpower, while USM is known to champion mollucs breeding not only in the nation but also in the region.
The success survival of the juvenile of Tridacna Gigas has shown clear success for the juvenile to survive. Now, the juvenile has ready to breed. The next phase is artificial breeding. We are hoping for the chances of producing daughter populations.
1. APEX university
2. Skillful resource persons
3. Sophisticated equipment
Historically, Tridacna gigas is synonym with Johor and USM. Conserving these giants are self explanatory on why we should protect our ocean. Choosing the right partnership wil save up unneccesary expenditure, both sides benefits in talent and human capital development. Both Johor and USM has long history of partnership and USMhas been very comitted to make the project as true sucess in conserving Malaysia's natural heritage. It is put aces in places . By forging strong collaboration with USM, it has prove to be successful for the next phase for Giant Clam conservation project in Malaysia. Johor is the only state in Malaysia, which has long commitment in restocked more than 900 three-year old clams (Tridacna squomosa) into its reefs in 1999, the first conservation effort of such in the country. Johor has been awarded the first island to produce giant clams for conservation by the Malaysian Book of Records.
Scientists, who have been monitoring the area before it was closed, estimate a 500% increase in biomass within the area since the closure. The area, previously covered with sea urchins, is now a thriving biodiversity hotspot with the balance restored. The elders report new species in the MPA that have not been seen in living memory. The coral, previously destroyed by human feet, has recovered quickly and the lagoon area is now known as one of the best snorkelling destinations on the Kenyan coast. Local and international students come and learn in our living marine classroom. Turtles feed on the seagrass beds undisturbed, and the number of nests has increased significantly. The area has returned from being a marine desert to a marine paradise and a critical model globally that shows how a poor community can help conserve nature and benefit from it too. Bigger and better catches outside the MPA has ensured support for the permanent closure.
The MPA could not have gone a head without the belief and forsight of the fisherfolk in the area and the acceptance to beleive that positive change was possible even in difficult circumstances. Local knowledge from the elders ensured a suitable site for the closure was chosen. Scientific research also supported the choice as having the most potential for long term improvement. Regular updates on improvements within the MPA has helped sure up the belief that it is successful as a breeding area.
That nature is resilient and can recover amazingly quickly if left alone to do so. Identifying needs and fostering willingness to embrace change can improve livelihoods. The importance of undertaking an environmental impact assessment on the area, underpinned by research and local knowledge, before the project started has been a critical factor towards the success of the MPA. Constant awareness and updates of the improvement in the MPA need to be communicated back to the community. Analysing the information can be used to put into perspective in the socio-economic impact. The importance of communication of our progress back to the community has been something we have had to improve. When the community understands and sees the benefits from change they are, understandably, more willing to accept it.
