The government of Mauritius, with the support of the Zoological Society of London, invited the Living Oceans Foundation to participate in a workshop to allow scientists and practitioners from different parts of the world to interact with Mauritian scientists and relevant stakeholders and exchange knowledge to inform the planning, implementation, management, and financing of the proposed marine protected area (MPA).
KSLOF was invited to participate in this event and gave expert advice on:
- Importance of documenting cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge to integrate across the planning process.
- Strategic plan and vision for the new Chagos MPA.
- Identification of new data inputs for zoning, marine spatial planning, ecological monitoring, and identifying technologies for illegal fishing enforcement.
The workshop was attended by the Prime Minister and other heads of state in Mauritius, as well as an international team of scientists, policy makers, conservationists, and local Chagossians community members.
KSLOF was honored to participate in this workshop as the Chagos MPA remains a critical area for marine conservation and scientific research. It serves as a refuge for threatened and endangered species and contributes to global efforts to protect marine biodiversity. KSLOF stays steadfast in support of the Chagos MPA, and we hope this new MPA will help to protect these pristine coral reefs.
