MAURITIUS MAURITIUS COUNTRY PROJECT COUNTRY PROJECT

Integrated Assessment of the Adaptation StrategyPlan of the Sugar Sectorfollowing EU Sugar Reform

GenevaGeneva25 March 201025 March 2010

Overview of the presentation

Context and focus of the IA study

Integrated Assessment process

Main findings of the IA study

Recommendations of the IA study

Integrated Policy Response

Main objectives of national integrated policy response

Achievements and Lessons learned

Context and Focus of the IA study• Sugar cane - multifunctional role

- 17% of foreign exchange earnings and up to 4.5% of GDP.

• Dismantling of Sugar Protocol following the long standing preferential market access (36% cut in sugar price)

• Impacts on: Economy, Social aspects, Environment and Biodiversity

• Government Strategy - Multi Annual Adaptation Strategy for the Sugar Sector (MAAS) 2006-2015

Regrouping of small farmers Sustaining marginal areas under sugar caneMoving out of sugar caneCentralizationRight sizing of labour force Increase contribution to national electricity productionShift to ethanol productionOptimising the use of sugarcane lands

Context and Focus of the IA study (2)

Focus of the studyIA of the impact of the EU sugar reform and Government strategy (MAAS) 2006-2015 on the sugar sector

Two approaches:• Sustaining sugar cane production through

- Intensification- Regrouping- Centralisation- Value addition- By-product use - Labour force rightsizing

• Moving out of sugar cane production in marginal areas where sugar cane cultivation is no longer profitable

Integrated Assessment ProcessParticipatory approach : Expert consultations, Specialist opinion, Focus group

meetings, Survey and Scenario building

1. Identification of the policy context and purpose of the country study

2. National Steering Committee /Technical Committee

3. Workshops for awareness of the UNEP initiative and capacity building in IA

4. Use of multi-stakeholder approach to • gather information and determine focus of the study, • assess the impacts of MASS on sugar sector,• develop conceptual framework, • identify assessment methodologies, indicators and validate findings

5. Assessment of impacts• Survey of regrouped small / medium planters • Focus groups with small scale farmers to gather information and to validate

findings of survey • Scenario building with assistance of subject specialist and relevant stakeholders

to identify the most likely changes.

6. National stakeholders workshop to validate findings and d ti f th IA t d

Integrated assessment of the Multi Annual Adaptation Strategy Plan (MAAS) 2006-2015 for the sugar sector following the EU sugar reform

Approach

1Sustaining sugar cane production through intensification, value addition, regrouping, centralisation, by-product use and rightsizing of labour force

Main ImpactsEconomic: Reduce cost of production and increased yield; Production of added value sugar and ethanol; Revenue from electricity & ethanol; Increased energy security

Social: Loss of 40,000 jobs; Voluntary Retirement Scheme; Re-skilling programme; Regrouping promotes community cohesion; Maintain multifunctional role of sugar sector

Environment: Improved water & air quality with centralisation and modernisation; Improved soil and water conservation in marginal areas; Increased use of renewable fuel; Reduced crop biodiversity; Destruction of habitat of beneficial organisms

Main findings of the IA study

Main findings of the IA study

Approach

2Moving out sugar cane production in marginal areas where sugar cane cultivation is not profitable.

3 Scenarios Main Impacts

Conversion to other agricultural uses

Additional investment and trainingAchieving food securityIncrease use of agrochemicals - negative impacts on land / water

Conversion to non-agricultural uses

Higher economic return and foreign investment with benefits for rural communities Could cause degradation of land / water resources

Abandonment Loss of raw material for ethanol and energy productionRisk of accelerated soil erosion and invasive species Impacts on rural communities, especially women labour force Possible gain in crop and animal biodiversity

Recommendations/Integrated Policy Response

Main recommendations of IA study Support adoption of modern technology and build capacity (in GAP/GMP) to comply

with standard required to shift to refined sugar at all levels.

Build national capacity in IA methodology for policy formulation in different sectors

Carry out inventory of local agro-biodiversity and build capacity in biodiversity valuation techniques.

Integrate strategies for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in EIA for sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies

Develop land use plan for marginal areas where sugar cane is likely to move out

National integrated policy response &

Action plan

1.Build national capacity in IA methodology and policy formulation in various sectors;

2.Enhance long term sustainability of the sugar industry through adoption of Good Agricultural Practices and new market requirements;

3.Develop land use plan for a specific difficult area moving out of sugar cane as a basis for future decision on the most desirable land use options to mitigate the impacts on the environment and biodiversity;

4.Integrate strategies for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies;

5.Build national capacity in assessment and valuation of biodiversity.

Main Objectives of National integrated policy response

Achievements and Lessons learned

1. Build national capacity to conduct integrated assessment using the IA methodology to assess impacts on trade policies on biodiversity in the agricultural sector and develop and implement integrated policy response to reinforce biodiversity aspects in sugar sector

2. Enhance understanding of linkages between trade policy, development and biodiversity (conceptual framework)

3. Build capacity on the IA methodology (69) and valuation techniques (31) and promote use of IA in policy making process in various sectors

4. Reinforce networking between Ministry of Trade, Environment, Agriculture including Conservation, Forestry, Fisheries and develop synergies to integrate biodiversity issues in development projects, EIA and integrated policies formulation

Achievements and Lessons learned (2)

5. The IA study has helped to create awareness among decision makers in different Ministries of the added value of the IA approach for reviewing exisiting policies / new policy formulation

6. Setting up of a website http:www.areu.mu/biodiv for sharing of information on the IA project

7. Promotion of GAP among sugar cane growers will also support Fairtrade initiative.

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Marginal areasMarginal areas

15

Marginal areasMarginal areas

Disruption of

landscape

Disruption of

landscape

17

Marginal lands moving out of sugar cane production

Marginal lands moving out of sugar cane production

Severe erosion

The Way Forward

1. Continuation of Farmers’ training in GAP2. Development of land use plan for a specific marginal area.

3. Organise public lecture on the IA methodology and UNEP initiative to support the CBD.

4. Cabinet paper on the rationale of using the IA approach in policy formulation in different sectors.

5. Identify funding for IA under the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) Fund / Conservation fund.

6. Linking the IA project website with the Ministry of Environment to further disseminate the project output.

7. Construction of baseline data on biodiversity so as to assess impact of sustainable development.

8. Recommend the setting up of a proper networking for sharing of data between institutions.

Implementation of Integrated Policy Response Activities under implementation of the integrated policy response

1. Stakeholder consultation to guide the implementation of the Integrated National Policy Action Plan (INPAP).

2. Capacity building in the use of the IA methodology for policy formulation for senior staff of relevant stakeholders from different sectors (e.g tourism, transport, environment,)

3. Capacity building in “valuation techniques to assess biodiversity and ecosystem services” for relevant stakeholders so as to encourage the integration ofbiodiversity assessments in Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)

4. Undertake consultative meetings to discuss on the modalities for the integration of strategies for sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)

5. Capacity building of sugar cane growers on aspects related to GMP in sugar production

6. Development of site specific land use plan with different options for marginal / difficult / environment sensitive areas where sugar cane cultivation is non-profitable through consultancy and focus group meetings

7. Disseminate the findings of this IA study and the use of the IA approach for formulation of integrated policies for sustainable development through public lectures and publications