National Environment Policy (NEP).

The National Environment Policy (NEP) is a multi-sectoral instrument whose vision is to reach environmental sustainability for the Republic of Mauritius and to ensure a clean and healthy environment. The specific objectives to be attained in this field include the following: Conservation of Environmental Resources; integration of environmental concerns in economic and social development; development of environmental ethics in citizens. The policy recognizes the right of every person to a clean and healthy environment. The document is based upon guiding principles such as the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle and the preventive approach. The policy defines strategies and outlines of actions to be taken in the following priority areas: 1) Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity; 2) land-use; 3) water resources management; 4) air quality and noise; 5) marine and coastal zone management; 6) the built environment; 7) environment and health; 8) sustainable production and consumption; 9) energy and environment; 10) waste minimization; 11) Natural and Man-made Disasters Management; 12) environmental education and awarenessThe policy promotes the adoption of the food security plan (see Sustainable Consumption and Production priority thematic area, point 7.8). The Government shall create an enabling environment for sustainably enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting agricultural diversification and food security.The policy aims at making agriculture more productive and sustainable. Sustainable development is the development paradigm and Government shall ensure that environmental concerns are mainstreamed in economic and social development. The biodiversity shall be managed in such a way that it will ensure conservation of habitats and ecosystems, protection of native fauna and flora, enhance crop and animal production to meet food, health and other socio-economic needs of the growing population. The promotion of sustainable farming is explicitly mentioned among the national targets set out in the Sustainable Consumption and Production priority area.The instrument aims at enabling more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. It adopts a gender sensitive approach. In particular, the policy promotes the conservation of agricultural land and improvement in quality of food crops, with specific programmes targeting women (especially women farmers).Moreover, the policy seeks to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters. The objective of Government is to enhance preparedness of the country so as to address the impacts of extreme weather events, climate change and sea level rise and other environmental disasters (including tsunamis and earthquakes).Regarding governance, transparency, accountability and good governance practices will be cornerstones of environmental policies. Community partnerships are promoted, so as to achieve a close partnership among the public sector, private sector and the community for an environmentally-conscious nation.