In Mauritius, an Indian Ocean Island off the eastern coast of Africa, stewards and users of the coast are expected to experience environmental and socio-economic insecurity if their traditional relational approaches to mangrove use are not formally integrated into policy and governance, according to a new study published in the Journal of Ethnobiology.

This study was driven by researchers from the University of Montpellier, University of Mauritius, University of Nebraska, and the Indian Ocean Islands Foundation. They utilized a mixed-method approach, including interviewing affected ocean stewards, to show the evolution of human-mangrove couplings across generations of Mauritians, its impacts on socio-ecological resilience, and the urgency of intervention required to save this relationship, which has helped preserve the coastal ecosystem in the country. Findings from the study showed decline in transmission of oyster-harvesting knowledge across matrilineal generations, vivid disparagement and discrimination of women fishers, as well as rising communal and environmental challenges to mangrove and coastal conservation in Mauritius.

Speaking to The Habibat Project for a Q&A, the lead researcher and project manager at the Indian Ocean Islands Foundation, Raphael Merven, elaborated on their findings and emphasized the need for valorization of key indigenous knowledge and events, as well as urgent changes to socio-environmental policies, from community-based barachois management to conservation education, to preserve what is left of this declining indigenous coastal socio-ecological system.

(The interview has been edited for length and clarity).

Coastal ontologies from the respondents, like “the sea is my mother” and another where an oyster was used to cut a child’s umbilical cord, revealed deep human-coastal ties. How can policy frameworks in Mauritius recognize these spiritual connections in addition to the existing biophysical and economic ones?

We have deep-rooted top-down policies, structured by state-led authority and imposed on practitioners and resource users in spaces like the lagoon and the sea. It’s difficult for this rigid structure to capture the essence of identity and connection to the sea. In Mauritius, we tend to view [policymaking] from economic or ecological angles, forming a sea community excluded from policy. When complaints arise, the policymakers claim, “This is legal, as per the policy,” ignoring these needs and perceptions. For policy change, we discussed in the paper the need to create spaces for dialogue with coastline dwellers, especially sea users, to express their needs and feelings when events occur. How does it affect their relationship with the sea and their activities? How can they shape coastal development and major decisions impacting them? We need coastal democracy on environmental and social topics. The second step would be a mainstreaming exercise, as laws and policies are fragmented: one for fisheries, others for mangroves, planning, and pollutant emissions into the sea, yet everything is connected.

The study portrays Mauritians as ecocentric in their approach to barachois and mangrove-systems management, yet the Fisheries Act of 2023 significantly limits the direct use of mangrove plants. Isn’t there a bit of a contrast there?

This is a good question, and I discussed it with my co-authors. The data shows an ecocentric perception, but my [other] hypothesis is that the people [additionally] value mangroves for social and cultural activities. There’s a difference between activity and perception. NGO programs heavily influenced this perception, emphasizing mangroves’ conservation value in boosting marine productivity, protecting coastlines from cyclones, and serving as fish nurseries. Yet, I think the activities from utilizing mangroves hold value too, even if not directly reflected in perception. This blend fosters socio-ecological resilience, valuing the social, spiritual, and cultural aspects of mangroves alongside their ecological benefits. However, the [government] policy banning direct use of mangroves is complicated. Mangroves were once called nuisances in Mauritius; they were burned and cut for blocking seaside views. So, the government intervened to protect the mangroves, which was good but overly strict, neglecting traditional and ancestral uses, like people using mangrove roots to counter diabetes or its branches to create tools to take crabs from the mud. Balance is required.

The study highlights available data from 2019 showing that there were only 35 registered female fishers in Mauritius, reflecting gross inequality in an island of fisherfolks and rendering the majority unregistered fisherwomen ineligible for support. How does this happen?

The main barrier is a structural lack of recognition. It’s tough, even shocking, but the authorities don’t recognize women as professional fishers. This affects not just their registration but is fueled by doubt about women’s abilities in the fishery sector, questioning their capacity to lead activities that provide household income. Other issues stem from longstanding gender inequalities. Women have less access to higher education, financial security, and land ownership, creating barriers to forming cooperatives, navigating legal procedures, or gaining family support. Families may say fishing isn’t a woman’s role. These challenges pile up, feeling insurmountable [for them]. A major registration hurdle is preparing legal dossiers, which is difficult for many women. A dedicated service [for the fisherwomen] to provide answers to their questions, even if done by one person, would help.

Can you elaborate on a specific example of a matrilineal transmission system you observed in the field, perhaps from oyster collectors, that illustrate how intergenerational knowledge transfer contributes to socio-ecological resilience there?

Oyster collection in Mauritius is mainly done by women, mostly in mangroves, due to systemic marginalization in the fishery sector, where men are primary breadwinners. Women’s contributions are seen as additional, so they lack tools like boats with motors to access reefs, fishing nets, and elaborated gear men use to fish far from the coast. Women stay on the coastline, though in the southeast, two villages have strong fisherwomen communities. In [one of] the villages I investigated, women collect oysters and mollusks, called “mangwak,” “palourd,” “moul” in Mauritian Creole. Their marginalization causes them to give value to this activity, but it provides them with autonomy to support households without men, fostering a matrilineal system of knowledge transmission. I spoke with a three-generation family, grandmother, mother, and daughter, collecting oysters. This transmission is also of practice and identity. The mother teaches her daughter these sustainable practices, saying, “this made me who I am, and I want you to maintain it, because it gave me importance and autonomy.” She shows her how to collect oysters without killing the small ones, taking a little from one area and moving to another to preserve the population.

Can you describe the state of the barachois in Mauritius and recommend concrete policy modifications that can make community-based barachois management more successful?

A barachois is a cove with mangroves, historically used to produce fish, oysters, and crabs. It’s not economically attractive for private companies to rehabilitate due to low profit. In Mauritius, the majority of the coastline, up to 80 meters inland from the high-water mark, is public land leased to private entities – hotels and resorts. I suggest a system where a community group can propose a project with guidelines addressing social, economic, and conservation outcomes. One problem in Mauritius is the top-down structure. There’s no mechanism for community-based conservation or management; it’s never existed. There are no recognized indigenous or local communities in Mauritius, as per the law or reports to international conventions for biodiversity, climate change, or human rights. To change the narrative and empower communities to suggest initiatives, we need an institutional framework that allows for bottom-up policies. For Barachois, an abandoned one in Poste de Flacq [a coastal village on the east coast of Mauritius] has potential. A trust fund for community-based conservation could support a 15-year lease for the initiative, which can be renewable if it meets expectations. This needs further exploration.

An employee from Bambous Virieux barachois lodge described a “lifeless” period post-2020 oil spill, when oil got to the bottom of the barachois. What community engagement steps would best capture long-term socio-ecological impacts and recovery narratives from this event?

There have been many communications around the oil spill in Mauritius that happened in 2020, with lasting effects continuing today. A short film was released, campaigns were done, there was a lot of media coverage on the impact for coastal communities, and also continuous monitoring of the oil spill ecological impacts on some ecosystems, including mangroves. The long-term impact [of the spill] requires continuous monitoring at the social, economic and ecological levels. Unfortunately, we are already seeing that this effort is slowly starting to lose consistency and interest, while many households are still indebted due to the impact of the spill, and many families are yet to receive compensation. On our end, with my research team, we have a project in the pipeline to valorize some narratives and testimonies that we collected on the impact of the oil spill and other impactful events on mangrove socio-ecosystems. As a form of valorization of ancestral and traditional narratives, we would love to build podcasts or shortform videos to invite broader discussion around how to build resilience to increasing shocks for coastal communities in the country.

What is your solution to young Mauritians not participating in local traditions, like regattas (traditional sailboat competitions) or barachois management, which may help conserve local ecological knowledge?

For me, the answer is education and valorization; these are the two main pathways. Recently, Our Heritage Foundation in Mauritius, a community-based organization working on cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage, organized a month-long training on building regatta boats for community members, especially children. This addresses what’s lacking in Mauritius: valuing these practices and showing children their importance. Many children don’t know what a regatta, barachois, or casier, an artisanal fishing trap, is. We must reintroduce these Mauritian ways to connect with nature, reflecting who we are. Integrating this into school education, upscaling it, and creating dialogue spaces for coastal communities to express needs would help. Policymakers should listen to feedback, not just impose. Valorizing these practices show that they contribute to our national identity, social fabric, and are valued by many.

Can you elaborate with a specific example (if possible) of how the hybridization of scientific and traditional forms of knowledge could improve general ecosystem management as the study suggests?

The hybridization of knowledge forms we discussed, mainly between science-based and traditional or local ecological knowledge, is an integration and overlay of different types of information to guide management [of the ecosystem]. Taking the example of artisanal fisheries around mangroves, science-based knowledge does not usually recognize socially, culturally or politically-significant areas, like some fishing grounds, that may be more visited because they are associated with signs of ‘good fortune’ or individual stories. What science can tell however, is how the fishing stocks are doing at the lagoon level, the populations that are more or less stable, and the time period that could be regulated to allow for a species to regenerate. Also, the economic value of a fished species is based on what the consumer would prefer, usually tied to social or cultural preferences, that in return impacts fishers’ livelihood. I would thus believe that integrating and hybridizing these multiple forms of knowledge may allow for a more sound and holistic approach to fisheries and coastal management, including marine spatial planning processes.

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Oceans account for 71% of the world’s surface but are slapped with a myriad of challenges, including microplastic and mercury pollution, climate change, ocean acidification, loss of coral reefs, and overfishing. These issues affect oceans around the world and are actively being tackled by many resilient individuals, initiatives, and organizations, amid global political and socioeconomic troubles.

Among the various solutions that have been developed to protect our marine ecosystems, one standout is seaweed farming. Presently, it is practiced across the globe, particularly in the waters of the Pacific Northwest by US farmers, the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts of India, Ariake Sea in Japan, and by the Bagamoyo Community along Tanzania’s Indian Ocean Coast.

Bagamayo is a coastal town in the Pwani Region of Tanzania with deep history. It is the capital of Bagamoyo District but was once the capital of German East Africa, an ivory and slave trading port, a settlement for Muslim Omani families, and a victim of the severe devastation of the First World War. The town’s history goes back many centuries, but much of it was established between the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Bagamoyo’s oceans face the same environmental threats as others around the world, prompting a young science teacher, Zuhura Ahmad, to take action.

Ahmad works with the town’s municipal government and other local non-governmental organizations to mobilize young women in the community to restore the deteriorating ocean ecosystem through seaweed farming. The farming processes lead to a reduction in ocean acidification and production of a variety of products from the seaweed, which are eventually used to create lotion, toothpastes, and oils.

Ahmad spoke to The Habibat Project about her stewardship with the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), and how she intends to collaborate with 100 Bagamoyo women to not only restore their community’s ocean systems but maximize the full potential of seaweed farming.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity).

Tell us about the woman, Zuhura Ahmad. Tell us about your background and inspirations.

I am Zuhura Ahmad. I work with “Youth4Nature” as the global ambassador. I am a science teacher, and I teach chemistry and biology and [that is where] the environmentalism inspiration comes from. Since high school, I have been very inspired to work with environmental organizations and clubs; when I got to university, I joined some of the university chapters working in the environmental arena. I volunteered in such kinds of activities, including cleanups, restorations, and tree planting. Over time, the passion grew, and in August 2023, I came up with the idea of “She Shapes Nature,” that actually works on empowering young women in seaweed farming in a nature-based economy. I introduced the idea to “Youth4Nature,” and it started as “storytelling” in order to gather the voices of young women on what they were doing, the challenges, and the lessons learned. So, when it came to [the] challenges, [I sought] to support them in terms of resources and materials to scale up the year's work. In October 2023, I started to collect the stories, and in 2024, I got the chance to work with them in terms of capacity building, because I realized they lacked the resources, knowledge, and education in ocean restoration, which includes seaweed farming. I have been working together with the government, communities, but with the support of “Youth4Nature,” and in December, 2024, I got the Ocean Restoration Steward Award.

Can you elaborate on how exactly your seaweed farming initiative is able to restore coastal ecosystems?

There’s land-based agriculture, but when it comes to seaweed farming, we do not use the soil, fertilizer, or land. Sustainable seaweed farming restores the ocean, and we support young women in shifting to ocean-based farming; this contributes to marine biodiversity by creating the habitats for marine life and improving water quality. What we do actually reduces marine pollution, because we not only advocate for seaweed farming, but for waste management practices. [Green] seaweeds absorb carbon dioxide from the surrounding water and air during photosynthesis, help to mitigate ocean acidification, and reduce the impact of climate change. It contributes to long-term carbon sequestration and acts as a natural carbon sink. It also supports mangroves and coral reefs restoration, as they rely on healthy water conditions and biodiversity. I said earlier that capacity building in ocean restoration is saddled with advocacy and storytelling. We do not do this alone. We partner with the local government to provide resources, technical skills, and market access for the young women. Generally, these actions are driven by commitment, not only [to] restore the ocean ecosystem, but also ensure that the women can thrive sustainably.

Can you describe the seaweed planting process?

It is a straightforward but systematic process that involves selecting a suitable farming site, which is very critical for successful seed cultivation. For example, you can observe the water condition for ocean water that is not polluted. Ocean water is salty water, and the shallow area is where the seaweed can grow. [This is] simply because the seaweed grows at a stable salinity level and temperature, which needs to range from 20°C to 30°C. To do it, we use pegs. We place those two pegs in shallow water and, in between, we attach the ropes, because the seaweed will hang on the ropes. When in the shore area, we tie the seaweed seeds onto the ropes and, afterwards, drive the two pegs [into the ground], so the line that contains the seaweed will hang between the two pegs while in the ocean.

What major challenges have you encountered in seaweed farming, especially in terms of community engagement, funding, or other technical barriers?

I can say the challenge is fundraising — the issue of fundraising in order to support these women and girls to be able to unlock their potential in ocean restoration. When I started, I realized that they really needed support in terms of education, because seaweed farming is not only about farming, but value addition; so after they harvest, what is next? They need to transport and create value from that seaweed into different kinds of products. That was one of the things that they lacked. Currently, they are able to make soap, oil, and lotions. We are focusing on basic cultivation methods with potential for growth in terms of market integration and value-added products, but there are some regions, including Zanzibar, where there are more innovations. While seaweed farming is present in Bagamoyo, it may not yet have adopted as many advanced farming techniques or value-addition methods, so the innovation here is in its early stage. Also, I have realized in seaweed farming that there are more women of the age of forty-to-fifty, and small numbers of young women. That is a really big gap, so we need to include young women. As we know, young people have skills, knowledge, capacity, energy, and are active, so we need to engage them, so that we can create more innovations and be able to scale up into more impactful sectors.

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) recognized your work with the award. Congratulations. How did you find yourself becoming a steward with funding to conduct your projects?

Thank you. For me, it started with [an] application. I saw the [call for] applications and was interested. I noticed I fit the criteria, because it was all about the things that I was doing on the ground. Of course, I really needed the support, not only in terms of finance, but also in terms of mentorship, learning, experience, exposure, and to connect with more people to see how they can support the project as well, so I applied and got selected. It was a big competition with more than 300 young people. After being selected, I got to be interviewed and the relationship started. I introduced the project that I wanted to do and now we can build a strong relationship.

It is mentioned in your bio that you want to directly impact over 100 women by the end of 2025. What unique strategies will you be implementing to be able to achieve this milestone?

To reach that number of young women is not so hard, but it actually needs the [right] strategies. I've already been working with 35 young women, and in the Bagamoyo community, there are so many groups of women that are actually working on ocean restoration, but they lack support. Because of the capacity and resources that I had before, I was able to impact the 35 young women. Now, because I'll get more support, I'll be able to support more than that. I will be working with the local government, NGOs in Bagamoyo Municipal, and those 35 young women to recruit more young women in order to reach that milestone. The women know their fellows; when it comes to local government, they know their people, and that will make it easy for us to be trusted by the people, because they will introduce us to them. That will be the number one strategy, and we can then work on the NEEDS assessments to identify the needs and support that they actually require in order to continue working on ocean restoration. The assessment and evaluation will follow up, maybe in three months, to see how we are progressing. What challenges are there? What areas need to be improved? Then we can see how to move together.

As temperatures continually rise due to climate change, the Himalayan region is facing increasing environmental risks. In Nepal, the Himalayas are warming faster than other areas in the country, with an average temperature increase of 0.08°C per year, according to the country’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

Nepal's landscape includes flat plains, mountains, and the Himalayas, which cover about 15% of the country’s total area of 147,516 square kilometers. The Himalayan region is also home to eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.

The rising temperatures are causing glaciers to melt faster, leading to the formation of glacial lakes. In 2015, a study mapped 3,624 glacial lakes in the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali river basins, Nepal's largest river systems. These lakes covered 195.13 square kilometers. By comparison, in 2005, there were 3,696 lakes, covering 186.44 square kilometers. Though the number of lakes had decreased, their total area had grown due to the rapid melting, and a recent report has identified 47 lakes in Nepal as dangerous, meaning they could burst at any time, leading to severe flooding.

Chairperson of the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation, Ngamindra Dahal, describes this situation as alarming. He said, "Climate change is having a stronger impact [on areas] above 3,000 meters in Nepal. If we don't take serious action, we could face huge losses of lives and infrastructure. It’s important to focus efforts on the Himalayan region." Dahal stressed the need for better monitoring of glacial lakes to identify those at risk of bursting. 

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The Destabilizing Consequences

If a glacial lake bursts, the impact could be catastrophic. 

On September 16, 2024, a small glacial lake burst in the Solukhumbu district, near Mount Everest. Although it was not marked as dangerous, the damage amounted to about USD 10 million. The Thame village in the area was wiped out by the resulting flood, destroying 55 homes, schools, health posts, and hydropower facilities. 

Thankfully, no one died because the flood occurred during the day. "Had it happened at night, many lives would have been lost," said Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, Chairperson of the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality.

Nepal has had other bad experiences with Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). In 2016, a glacial lake burst in Tibet, causing significant damage in Nepal — twenty houses, a school, roads, and a 45 MW hydropower project were destroyed.

Nepal has experienced at least 24 GLOF events before, 14 of which occurred within Nepal, and 10 caused by floods from Tibet.

What is the Solution?

Although Nepal can’t control rising temperatures, experts say it can reduce the risk of GLOFs.

According to Basanta Raj Adhikari, an engineering professor at Tribhuvan University with extensive knowledge of the issue, the first step is to map all glacial lakes in Nepal and request China to do the same for lakes in Tibet, whose waters flow into Nepal. “We need to understand the situation of all these lakes," Adhikari said. "For those in danger, lowering the water levels is the main solution."

Nepal has some experience in reducing water levels. In 2016, the water level of the Imja glacial lake was lowered by three meters, which helped protect more than 12 villages from potential flooding. Similarly, in 2001, Nepal reduced the water level of the Tso Rolpa glacial lake.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology is working on plans to lower the water levels of four other dangerous lakes: Thulagi, Lower Barun, Lumding Tsho, and Hongu-2. Jagadishwor Karmacharya, Director General of the department, noted that they have applied for funding from the Green Climate Fund for this project.

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While people often think that there isn't enough happening in the Arctic to be affected by the frequent anthropogenic activities that go on in the rest of the world, The Habibat Project reports that that is not the case.

A lot of plastic pollution goes on in the Arctic and often is not detected except via special techniques. Why is this a problem in the first case? Plastics live with humans for too long, because they are non-biodegradable substances, and they end up contaminating our environment in terms of physical alteration, as reflected in dump sites, agricultural land, and drainages blocked by waste and, chemical intoxication, in terms of how it affects the health of humans and other living biodiversity on Earth. Plastics eventually become microplastics after diminishing into fragmented invisible forms over a long period of time and climate variations.

The Arctic is the cold far-away northernmost polar region of Earth that, due to its very low temperature, would naturally be considered quite hostile to live in, and that would mean zero to minimal human pollution. But in an interview with award-winning biologist and polar deep-sea researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Dr Melanie Bergmann, we are informed that the pollution level in sediments at the Arctic surpasses that of the North Sea, and that some wildlife in the Arctic would feed on microplastics instead of their natural diet in a sudden twist of fate. 

In this interview, The Habibat Project learns from her, what exactly is responsible for this level of pollution accompanied by drastic changes in natural patterns, and what her role is in mitigating the consequences of this level of microplastic pollution in the region. Dr Bergmann was hitherto the founder of Litterbase, which gave us detailed breakdown of microplastic pollution around the world, gathering its credible info from research studies, until its temporary hiatus in 2020; she is also now considering restarting it.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity)

What is the state of microplastics in the Arctic region exactly?

Well, it is quite high in the Arctic region. It depends on where you're looking, but we found extremely high microplastic levels in sea ice and also in the deep-sea sediments, up to 12,000 particles per kilogram of sediment. So that's actually really quite a lot, especially because supposedly we're very far away from the main sources and, because, the Arctic is largely uninhabited. That [number] actually surpasses some of the thresholds that had been suggested by people who do work on risk assessments. The reason why we're finding so many microplastics might also be because we use quite sensitive methods that can also detect very small microplastics. A lot of other laboratories don't have these facilities, so they measure only the larger plastics and, actually, we find that 80 to 90% of the particles that we measured were in the very smallest size range. If you're only looking at the large plastics, then you will seriously underestimate what's in the environment, unfortunately. The analysis pipeline that we're using is quite sophisticated; not everyone has the ability and finances to do these types of measurements. So, on one hand, it's good because you can show what is there. On the other hand, it's a bit of a shame that we always find very high levels of pollution because of the methodology that we use, but we have also done studies, using the same methodology, on sediments in the North Sea and some other parts of the world and, actually, the levels found in the Arctic sediments were higher. 

What are the reasons for so many microplastics in the Arctic, and what are the likely consequences on the Arctic area?

On one hand, you get Atlantic currents basically bringing everything from our part of the world to The North. Another reason would be local emissions, because there are actually quite a few fishing boats operating in the area now. There are also inhabited places in Siberia. Another reason is that there are rivers discharging their water into the Arctic Ocean and, while the Arctic Ocean comprises only 1 to 2% of the global ocean volume, say it receives 10% of the global river discharge. So, it's actually quite a lot of water that is coming out of these rivers into the Arctic Ocean, and some of these rivers do pass [through] some cities or run through agricultural land and, in the winter [when frozen], they are used almost like roads, because vehicles drive on them. We have atmospheric microplastics, because we did also find quite a lot of microplastics in snow samples. We also found microplastics in air samples, but we haven't published this yet. And if you look at the main air current systems in our research area in the Fram Strait, you will see that it comes basically from different directions into our area, bringing the particles with the air into that area. So, these are the main pathways. Also, tourism has increased a lot in the area. The numbers and sizes of cruise ships have increased a lot over the past 10 years. Even when they don't discharge plastics on purpose, wherever you find a ship, you will have a plastic imprint, through the graywater, or just stuff being blown overboard in some way or another. And if you have big cruise ships with thousands of people, it's inevitable. 

What are the consequences for the living organisms there?

We haven't got so much data here, because it's very difficult to get the samples from the Arctic, unlike in the North Sea. Now we [researchers] are starting to look at how much [of microplastics] do we find in the animals and what might be the effects? We can't really do effect studies with Arctic animals, as it's more difficult to keep them in the laboratory, because they live under very different conditions – as soon as you bring them up, they're dead or so stressed that you cannot do anything with them anymore. So I think it's reasonable to assume that they're at least as vulnerable or prone to effects [of microplastics] as other animals that have been studied in other areas, possibly more so because they are already under serious threat from climate change, because climate change is happening in the Arctic four times faster than the global average. And lots of things are not in balance anymore, so to say. For instance, if animals eat microplastics rather than nutritious particles that they usually would, then it puts further stress on them.

You did some work in a pollution observatory. What was the nature of your work? 

Basically, since 1999, the Alfred Wegener Institute have [had] this observatory in the Farm Strait in the West of Svalbard, we call it Hausgarten Observatory, and we do a lot of research on all the different parts of the ecosystem, from the sea surface down to the deep seafloor. And my role was to analyze photographs from the ocean floor to look at changes in the organisms living there. So every year, we would take a camera down and tow it along a certain stretch of the seabed. And the next year, we would do exactly the same. Then you can compare the photographs from the different years to see if there's [been] any changes in the organisms there. While I was doing that, I was seeing more and more plastic debris in the images; we found that we had a seven-fold increase in marine debris. And that's not only plastic, that's all the anthropogenic items, because we also find a lot of glass down there. So, there was a big increase over 13 years, basically.

There is a lot of focus on some new methods that exist to be able to detect microplastics in our environment. Can you shed more light on these new methods?

It's something we call Micro-FTIR, it's Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. And we basically shine infrared rays on particles to get a spectrum, and then we compare the spectrum with spectra of known substances and delineate what it could be in simple terms. This [method] enables us to look at smaller particles, because some of the other analyses work only for larger particles that are, for example, larger than 300 microns as they rely on visual selection of putative microplastics.

Is Litterbase, the global microplastic pollution tracking platform, still regularly updated for public use?

Not anymore. We had to stop. When we started it in 2016, a lot less [research] was published. The number of scientific publications have skyrocketed in recent years and, every year, it's increasing, so it's just impossible to do that [maintain Litterbase]. It stopped in 2020, unfortunately, because, I couldn't do anything else anymore if I was doing that, and [it] also would require more quality assurance, because we did it manually; basically, you need a person to look at all the publications that are coming out to first find out which ones are relevant to Litterbase, that already takes a lot of time, and then you need someone to read the publication and enter all the details into the computer according to this format that we have and, that, of course, also takes quite a lot of time. When you do something like this, you end up with inconsistencies or errors but, often, it's just inconsistencies. So you do need some sort of data quality assurance process to check up on this every now and then and, that, we hadn't put into place either. Litterbase was mostly intended to be a public outreach tool, not so much a scientific metaanalysis type of thing.

Is that the end? 

We were considering putting it up again with my former PhD student, Mine Tekman. She is exploring ways to revive it, but there's nothing on the horizon yet. So, we'll see. 

Are you working on any research that points to what we can expect going forward in terms of the handling of plastic waste everywhere around the world?

Not me, specifically. I am part of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty, which tries to inform these UN plastic treaty negotiations. We're doing a lot of outreach to the negotiators. We're writing policy briefs, fact sheets, and when there are negotiation rounds, like there was one in Nairobi [Kenya], another in Ottawa [Canada], Paris [France]; the next one will be in South Korea in November. We go to these negotiations and try to approach country negotiators to provide them with the scientific evidence available because, quite often, they are not aware of the state of knowledge already there. Sometimes, some of them even have lobbyists, industry lobbyists, in their delegations, and there was a lot of lobbyism happening around these negotiations in Ottawa. It was just terrible.

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Qatar is known for its oil and gas exploration and adventures which have made it the richest state in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. It is a small state in terms of size and population but has a wide footprint across the globe in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. However, the nation strives to mitigate the impact of its emission activities via a comprehensive national plan that it established in 2008 but designed to last till 2030; this national plan, amidst other things, focuses on developing sustainable technologies, funding institutions dedicated to the protection of the environment, funding climate conferences dedicated to reducing global warming, and consolidating loose structures of its environmental policy frameworks. The passion is amazing to see but how far have these actions helped in protecting the environmental integrity of the nation and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula? And what may others learn from their policies?

Is their focus on sustainability truly impressive? An award-winning Professor of Law and UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the College of Law, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN, FCIArb) believes in the ongoing reform project in Qatar. Speaking to The Habibat Project, Professor Olawuyi, who doubles as the Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, believes that the Qatari approach is a sustainable one, and that the nation’s ongoing transition to tourism from an oil-dependent economy is excellent for the MENA region. He opines that their approach is the way forward for other states intending to transit and diversify in a way that prioritizes technology, adequate water management, policy, and the sustainability of the environment.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity).

Qatar and other MENA nations are trying to transition their economies from being oil-dependent to significantly including tourism and other sectors. However, tourism puts pressure on resources, particularly water resources. What kinds of frameworks and policies are in place in Qatar to protect water resources, given that it is situated in an arid region?

You're right. Water scarcity is a big issue in the region, because it's an arid region characterized by dry lands, right? When you are in the desert region, you must be very innovative in water generation as well as water management. What Qatar and the rest have done is to promote the use of water technologies. There's a lot of investment in water technologies, water desalination technologies specifically. It's a technology through which you can indeed take out the salt from seawater and make it useful, and most of the water used in the region, even in Qatar is from desalination plants. It's a two-pronged approach, investment in water desalination technology to generate water, as well as then making regulations to ensure water conservation and management. They've taken that integrated approach for water conservation; they have the water efficiency data sheet — it is called [the] Tarsheed water efficiency program, in which there is a clear stipulation on how much water you can use; there is a clear stipulation on the need for facilities and businesses to have water conservation plans. So the combination of both has really made the country advance this issue of water sustainability, especially advancing SDG 6 [Clean water and sanitation]. Water governance is definitely at the forefront [of the Qatari approach] — promoting water technologies, ensuring water efficiency, water conservation, and promoting training.

Let’s delve into the grand vision. What exactly does Qatar’s National Vision portend for the environmental condition of the country and the Arab Peninsula?

Qatar, as you know, is a major producer of natural gas, as well as some oil. In many of the petroleum rich states, for many years, their economies had been closely tied to oil and gas extraction. So, now the National Vision 2030 is a clear document that tries to say, okay, how we use our natural resources to transition towards a more diversified, knowledge based technology-driven society. Qatar has made a lot of progress in implementing that vision — the environment pillar [of the plan] talks a lot about awareness. And now in Qatar, there are a lot of universities focusing on environmental awareness [and] environmental causes. As you may know, I established the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in the MENA region, which has also supported that vision in providing consistent training and capacity development on environmental issues, as the national mission specifically says the country hopes to develop an environmentally-aware population that understands environmental and habitat protection. We also have the environmental law in Qatar that specifically mandates all education providers to include environmental courses. That's in the law. So you will see that the environmental awareness is at an all time high in Qatar.

That's great, but there are other frameworks including the National Environmental Climate Strategy, the National Climate Change Action Plan, and even the National Development Strategy. How do they all key into this national vision?

Yes, as you will realize, the national vision is an umbrella document that has that general national vision — [embodying] the number of instruments [climate agendas] that have been released. Qatar now has more than ninety laws and regulations on the environment. And those regulations and laws sort of specify the exact goal that must be met. The Government of Qatar adopted the climate change strategy, which now includes having the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Before it used to be the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, so the environment was just an appendage at the time. But now, there is a clear Ministry of Environment and Climate Change with a mandate to address [the] issues of climate change. It shows the country's ambition to be at the forefront of climate solutions. Even in that Climate Change Strategy, they talked about the desire to achieve net-zero carbon emission. So I think the national vision has provided “the umbrella [document],” while these new strategies are now going into the specific granular details.

Qatar was a signatory to the 2016 Paris financing agreement, and COP29 will be held in November in Baku, Azerbaijan. So in what ways do you think Qatar can improve upon its existing climate financing commitments, especially to the developing states within the MENA sphere?

It's a good question, and one of the key things at the COP28 in the UAE was the emphasis on solidarity, right? The need for international solidarity to move climate action forward. And solidarity simply means [that], well-off countries, countries that have the technology, resources, and the money should provide support to developing countries; the MENA region is a mix of very rich countries, but there are some countries, like you mentioned, that will require a lot of help. So, Qatar, through its development fund and its overseas programs, have been at the forefront of providing support for other countries, both in terms of financial support and technology. I've realized that Qatar is aligning diplomacy with climate change. Qatar is at the forefront of what I call climate-change diplomacy, which aims to use diplomacy and international development & support to advance climate-change ambitions across the region.

Qatar has also been involved in a lot of legal prosecution of violators of the integrity of the environment. What exactly do you think other countries can learn from the Qatari legal framework, and how can they implement it in their own countries as well? 

I think some of the things that have worked well for Qatar include, one, having a very clear and committed environmental legislation that covers a wide range of use[s]. I am aware that “Law Number 30,” as it's called, as well as the executive bylaws, are very comprehensive, and I'm aware that the country is in the process of updating them. So, one thing that Qatar has been able to do is to continue to update its laws in line with modern realities.

Secondly, you would say, “how is the country able to still continue oil and gas [exploration] without having as many environmental problems?” That's also because the national energy company there, called Qatar Energy, has their own very stringent health, safety and environment regulations that make it unprofitable for any business to want to pollute, because if you do it and they cancel your license, you're gone. I think that [the] idea of a national oil company having a very stringent set of regulations on health, safety, and environment has really really worked well for Qatar. 

The third lesson one can draw from Qatar’s approach is that strong international engagement. In international law, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. So you have to be at the forefront, as a country, in terms of climate diplomacy and international negotiation. Because if you're not, then you will get international deals that will weaken your own economy; that could make it even difficult for you to protect the environment. So I think [that] Qatar has realized it and is playing a very big role in the international diplomacy environment — that active engagement. For example, Qatar organized the climate COP[18], thereby showing the interest that they have in being at the forefront of these issues. 

The relationship between the Arabian authorities’ and their local communities, I would say, has been grossly underreported. Some of the locals in the oil-exploring MENA states may have been affected by activities that are related to oil drilling and exploration. How has Qatar been able to ensure environmental justice, proving that it is not just a situation where they're making money off them, but also giving them something in return?

The approach taken by Qatar is one promoting the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits of oil and gas production. They are ensuring that no one is left behind [by] promoting public participation — that is the approach [being] taken. Most people now channel their [environmental] concerns through the Shura Council, made up of elected individuals. It's a small country, so some of the issues of indigenous rights that you might see in other countries don't manifest in the same manner in Qatar. Rather, [the] environmental justice that we emphasize over there is more about ensuring that the benefits of oil and gas and other development projects are maximized to continue on the path of sustainable development. And I hope they [the Qatari authorities] can maintain and sustain this — using their resources for the benefit of the current generation, as well as for the protection of future generations. We've seen in the region, free education for their citizens and support for those that want to go into eco-entrepreneurship. Those are policies and future-generation programs that are quite commendable.

Congratulations on receiving the Weeramantry International Justice award. It's a testament to your hard work and dedication to sustainability over the years. How exactly do you feel about being a recipient of this award?

It is indeed a truly special moment to be found worthy of such important recognition. The award is named in honor of the legacy of Judge Weeramantry, one of the leading lights in environmental law, [whom] as well as becoming a judge, was a vice president of the ICJ. So to receive an award, named after such an iconic figure is a special moment. And, as a student, I read closely, some of the leading judgments and pronouncements of Judge Weeramantry, especially cases like Gabčíkovo, which indeed shaped the idea of what states should do to protect the environment. So, I'm honored to receive the award, and I think it would only motivate me to do more for sustainable development, world peace, and environmental justice.

Madagascar is known for its distinct and endemic biodiversity, but the Indian Ocean African island has been facing arduous challenges threatening the smooth functioning of its ecosystem. The US International Development agency, USAID, describes the present threats to Madagascar’s rich biodiversity as “widespread and abject poverty, exacerbated by high birthrates and unsustainable land management practices.” The island and its people, who are highly dependent on its natural resources, are forced to engage in destructive environmental activities such as illegal deforestation for fuelwood, charcoal extraction, and canoe making; illegal exportation of precious wood; subsistence agriculture by burning forest areas; overfishing due to growing food insecurity and low income; and poaching, for lemurs especially. The result of these is a loss of 80% of natural areas on the island and an annual loss of 200,000 ha of land, an 80% loss in sportive lemurs, a 31% critical endangerment of all lemur species in Madagascar, and an endangerment of more than 40 current bird species.

In attempting solutions to mitigate the challenges, Lily-Arison Rene de Roland who leads the crew at the Peregrine Fund, Madagascar, seems to have found a working formula to help cut down on the land and species loss, and the deplorable state of human-wildlife cohabitation in the country. For every fiberglass canoe that is provided for a fisherman by Lily and his team, they are able to save eight big trees. Saving these trees translates to ameliorating the breeding season of different bird species, protecting smaller trees which get caught up in the destruction spree, protecting land area, and saving the homes of eagles, lemurs, chameleons, aye-ayes, and civets in the wild.

Lily-Arison is Malagasy born and bred, and has over thirty years of Malagasy conservation experience. He is influential in conservation activities on the island, and that has been made possible by his relationship with the Peregrine Fund, whose Madagascan division he has headed since 2004. Few months ago, he was awarded the National Geographic Conservation Leadership Award in Africa, and has on more than one occasion, discovered lost bird species including the Madagascar pochard and the Dusky tetraka. The Katableps lilyarisoni (Katableps spider) was also named in his honor after a joint effort at discovery. Speaking to The Habibat Project, he gives an interesting backstory on conservation in the country, and more importantly, explains a working “fiberglass approach” to protecting biodiversity in Madagascar – an approach which he insists can only be effective through collaboration with traditional community leaders and adequate sensitization of the locals.

What's your personal background, and how did you find yourself in the conservation field?

Lily: I come from a small village here in Madagascar. I moved into the University in [the] capital [University of Antananarivo] to learn biology – animal biology. At this time, I met the Peregrine Fund project, which decided to support me in [getting] my degrees. So, I received the support of this American project, since I prepared [for] my Master’s and also for my PhD. After I received my PhD, they nominated me as national director of the project.

What was your PhD thesis about, and how has it structured your career so far?

Lily: I studied three species of hawks in Madagascar. Frances's sparrowhawk, Madagascar sparrowhawk, and Goshawk. For the three species of hawks, I did a comparative study on their biology and ecology. So from these studies, I learned a lot on habitat conservation and species conservation, and it gives me more experiences on birds. And I followed…you know Ian Newton?

No, no, I don't.

Lily: Ian Newton is [a] senior ornithologist. I read lots of his publications. So, I put in time [on] what he did, and what I can do here in Madagascar according to the habitat here in Madagascar, so I learn[ed] more about microhabitat behaviors and bird conservation and, also, almost all animal conservation. So, these practice[s] in [the] field are also one of my advantages. I spent a lot of time in [the] field. So, I had the time to learn how exactly to do conservation here in Madagascar. We have worked closely with local communities. I have lots of experiences on community conservation here in Madagascar. I received more training in Africa, like [in] Uganda, Tanzania, [and] Kenya for conservation. And it helped me [with] lots of experiences — what our colleagues in Africa have [also] done. 

What is your conservation story in Madagascar?

Lily: 30 years ago and at the beginning, I was just focused on birds of prey – on raptors, and during this time, two birds of prey endemic to Madagascar were considered as extinct, one is [the] Madagascar serpent eagle and one is [the] Madagascar red owl; both species were considered as extinct. And the project, Peregrine Fund, arrived here in Madagascar to look for robust species. We, with the Peregrine Fund team, discovered the Madagascar red owl, and it also help[ed] us to have technical experiences on how to monitor the raptors. And after, we have continued to learn more on raptors here in Madagascar. And we have worked at [the] West Coast [and] in [the] Northeast of Madagascar. In 2003, our former president wanted to increase [by] three times, the protected areas in Madagascar. At this time, we inside the Peregrine Fund followed up with the government to also create new protected areas. And after we followed the process from the ministry of environment, and in 2015, we created four protected areas – two at the west with dry forest and wetlands, and at the north of Madagascar, and these four protected areas, totaling about 200,000 hectares, have more threatened species of animals like birds, primates, and also reptiles. And also, one specificity of this site is that, at the West Coast, the site belongs to [is controlled by] traditional management. As you see, here in Madagascar, most of [the] areas which are managed by traditional stakeholders before, [are] then followed by many problems, and it makes the degradation very fast.

When you say traditional stakeholders, are you referring to the indigenous owners of the land?

Lily: I [will] give you an example. [The] West Coast is inside a dry forest. Many lakes [are] inside the forest, and the lakes are used by fishermen to catch and sell fish. But [at] the opening of the fishing season, [the fishermen] don’t follow the calendar from [the] fishing ministry, but the traditional leader, [who] decides each year, the time for the opening of [the] fishing season. So, this kind of management is very important. The Peregrine Fund follow[s] this approach to respect this traditional management, to show to all local communities that traditional management is very important to conserve the biodiversity in Madagascar. So, two of the sites at West Coast, which we managed, also have traditional management. We have worked closely with the leaders of the traditional people at [the] West Coast. And at the north…The North is a very important ecosystem as there are rainforests, marshes, savanna, and volcanic lakes.

Can you tell me more about the West Coast and the kind of species over there, and if it is currently threatened by climate change or not?

Lily: It's a dry forest and inside [the] dry forest, there are lakes. In general, [it has] dry forests and wetlands, and at wetlands, there is one critically-[endangered] bird. It is [the] Madagascar fish eagle. We have worked with this critically-[endangered] bird since 1992. Following your question about climate change, as we have worked on the species for more than 50 years now, we observe that climate change happens on this species because [of] the breeding season. Before, the [breeding] season began in May, but since three or four years ago, it comes late for the beginning of the breeding season, this is one point [made about the effect of climate change]. Also, the second point is [that] some nests didn't [have] laid eggs, or if there are eggs, some eggs did not hatch into the nestling. We knew at the time to put camera traps on the nests to see, what exactly is the issue of non-reproduction of these birds? Has the temperature become very high? Or [is it] the factors of food? I hope that in the next two years, we'll have more information on climate change or the other issues on these species.

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Is there any other angle from which we can view the effect of climate change on these birds? 

Lily: As I said, we have studied the impact of climate change on these species. In Madagascar, fishing is the best place to learn about climate change. Because we studied [for] almost 51 years on these species, we have a lot of data of the period for [their] breeding season – the quality of their reproduction success, and also [their] quantity of food, and also the quality of lakes. Quality includes the depth of water. Has the depth of water decreased or has the lake changed in quality? And [this investigation is] all in relation [to] climate change. But once [investigation is complete on] the size of the lakes, the quality of the lakes, the quantity of food for the birds, the reproduction success, and the period of reproduction, we can now learn about all of these factors [together] to see [if] the climate change [has] happened on the species or not. So as I said, maybe after three years, we'll have more information on the impact of climate change on Madagascar fishing.

What specific projects are you working on that are timely to Madagascan conservation?

Lily: At the moment, I focus on two points. Firstly, I have supervised lots of students. My feeling is that we need to have more generations to be educated on conservation. So, I support more students to learn about biodiversity and conservation, and I will continue to do this activity. The second is [that] I want to protect the existing forests. As you know, the speed of forest degradation is very fast. To keep the existing forests, there are some programs, not only here in Madagascar, the programs of [the] government to do reforestation. I think it's a good idea, but [for me] the first thing is how to keep the existing forests. So, I have worked mostly with the local communities to sensitize them to keep the existing forests. So, that is two points. It is my big effort to know how to increase the education of the new generation to learn about biodiversity and conservation and also how to keep the habitat…the existing forest left at the moment.

What is that community-based approach that you employ in preserving the remaining forests, and how does it mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in those areas?

Lily: Like at [the] West Coast, we managed wetlands with [a] lot of fish, and this wetland too is the habitat for [the] Madagascar fish eagle. It's a specie [that], as I said, is critically endangered. Some of these species depend on fish for food, and the local communities also need to have more fish to have money for their livelihood [by selling the fishes]. So, what do you do to protect the Madagascar fishing industry [but simultaneously offer] a good life for the local communities – for the fishermen? We need to have [a working] approach on how to do [the] best management for [the] wetland [areas]. So, we have worked with local communities to explain to them the importance of good management of the lakes. For example, the fishermen use wood[en] canoes, and the wood[en] canoes [are] just used for two years, and after two years, they’re broken. They cut big trees to do a wood[en] canoe, and when they cut the big trees, all of the small trees close to the big trees [are] also destroyed, because they didn't follow the [right] techniques [on] how to cut the trees. So after, we looked for financial support to build the fiber canoe [fiberglass canoes]. In my experience, one fiber canoe can be used for 16 years or 20 years. So if we consider it, for 16 years, one fiber canoe can protect eight big trees. If we share [to] them one fiber canoe, we can stop to cut eight big trees. We looked for financial support to give fiber[glass] canoes to fishermen to stop the destruction [of trees] or the tree cutting, and it also make[s] them to save [cut down expenses associated with cutting trees and using wooden canoes]. So we saved more [trees]. We also wrote rules on which period we can [go] fishing and how to sell the fish [for further] production. So, we shared a lot of experiences on how to make their wellbeing [better] and also protect the threatened species [at the same time]. [Through our] approach, we didn't have a conflict between human and wildlife at the moment. And it's like a lesson learned to share to others, what our experiences are on local or community-based conservation here in Madagascar.

Why is the fiberglass canoe successful in protecting biodiversity in Madagascar, and what is the operation behind it? 

Lily: There are societies which build the fiber[glass] canoe here in the capital. I discussed with them [on] how long we can use one fiber[glass] canoe, and they said, at the time, it can be [used for] more than 10 years. When we bought [them for] the first time in 2001, we saw that in 2017, [that] we could [still] use the boat. As we saw [that] from 2001 [to date], that the fiber[glass] canoe can use more years, we looked for financial support to buy more and share to the fishermen. But it's not only to share, we asked them to pay in small amounts. 

When they use [it] during the [fishing] season for example, from June to November, they pay [a] small amount, and at the end of the fishing season, all of the fiber[glass] canoes come back to our camp — [the] research camp. The participation to pay in small amounts [by the fishermen] makes them take care of [the] equipment. We said to them that, next year, we'll pay again…we'll add the participation [contribution by the fishermen] to the new financial support to buy [more fiberglass canoes] again in order to give [to] their colleagues. 

What other similar approaches that are equally instrumental in fighting against this human-wildlife conflict do you adopt? 

It's been [the] same [method we apply] in agricultural activities. On agricultural activities, we gave the agricultural person some seeds. For example, if we give three kilos of beans [seeds] to one person. And at the end of each [farming] production, he can [return] the three kilos; and in this three kilos [of returned beans seeds], we share again to another [group of] people who didn't receive last year. After this, all of the people [living] in the protected areas have seeds to ensure their cultivation, so the production [harvest] is for them. But the seeds we gave him at the beginning, he will give [back] to us to share to another person. In some [other] areas, they are interested in poultry activities, so, we give them trainings on vaccination; we give them equipment like refrigerators to keep the vaccines [safe] and give a training on how to do the vaccination; they receive more [training] activities, and these activities give them [an opportunity] to sell and to have money. It [also] decreases not taking [poaching], for example, lemurs inside a forest as before. I saw [that] local communities took lemurs for food, but after receiving more support and sensitization [on] the importance of biodiversity. It decreased the impact of hunting in protected areas. As you said, [there exists] wildlife and human conflict, but on our side, no, we didn't see the conflict but growth and development.

Corrections/edits applied to text (grammar) on 4 December, 2024.