Project background

Responding to the programme of action for small island developing states concerning climate change and sea level rise, the UNEP is underpinned by the reality that the past and current emission has already committed the earth to some degree of climate change in the 21st century. UNEP agrees that reducing uncertainties about climate change, its impacts and the cost of various response options is vital.
Therefore, the prudent policy portfolio of actions proposed by UNEP is at controlling emissions, adapting to impacts and encouraging scientific, technological and socio-economic research.
Globally, much attention is focussed on global warming, causing gradual, long-term changes in average conditions, the most immediate and more significant impacts are likely to arise from changes in the nature of extreme events including extensive coastal erosion, frequency and intensity of rainfall and storms, drought, coral bleaching, more widespread and frequent occurrence of mosquito-borne diseases and higher sea levels making some soil too saline for cultivation of traditional crop.
The coastal areas are the most diverse and productive ecosystems and are particularly sensitive to changes.

In the initial national communication plan of the Republic of Mauritius under the UNFCCC, government proposed that out of three options suggested by the IPCC, due to land constraints, retreat and abandonment options to safeguard coastal resources are not applicable adaptive measures for Mauritius. Hence the protection and accommodation options would be more appropriate. In addition, for the coastal zone management, the following recommendations were proposed:

· Data collection and management need to be reviewed so as to improve on-going studies and to enable more comprehensive research and analysis.

· Capacity building is essential and need to be encouraged so as to ensure the continuity of climate change activities.

· Formal and informal education and training to raise awareness of the entire population on climate change issues and its possible effects.

· Special consideration to the female population, who is the focal points of families in the educational processes.

Under these circumstances, progress in adaptation to climate change will almost certainly require the integration of appropriate risk reduction strategies with other sectoral policy initiatives in areas such as sustainable development planning, disaster prevention and management, and health care planning.

Aim
The aim of the project is to cope with climate change impacts using wise practices by involving the local community in investigating, planning, preparing and implementing an adaptation strategy plan in the selected coastal villages.

Objectives
To raise awareness about climate change science and work with local community to understand the impact of climate change on them, and to verify how changes are taking place, to identify vulnerability, prepare and implement adaptation plan.