Mauritius advances forest financing through national capacity-building workshop
August 1, 2025
Port Louis, 28–30 July 2025
A national workshop organized by the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS) in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius brought together over 40 representatives from across sectors to strengthen national capacity for forest financing. The event marks an important step in the country’s efforts to develop a National Forest Financing Strategy (NFFS) aligned with global forest goals and national development priorities.
Building the foundation for forest finance
Forests in Mauritius are critical for biodiversity, water regulation, and local livelihoods, yet they face persistent challenges from land use pressures and limited financing. The workshop aimed to equip national stakeholders with the tools and knowledge to better access and manage forest-related funding.
Held over three days in Port Louis, the workshop featured expert presentations, interactive working group sessions, and cross-sectoral dialogue. It was organized within the framework of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)’s Development Account project for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which supports integrated recovery strategies following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interactive sessions on strategy design
Participants—including officials from forestry, finance, environment, climate, land use, research, and civil society—took part in a structured process to:
- Analyze key challenges and gaps in sustainable forest management (SFM);
- Map priorities in the forest and environmental sectors;
- Identify domestic and international financing sources;
- Align SFM priorities with relevant funding instruments;
- Discuss enabling policy reforms for long-term resource mobilization.
The workshop also introduced participants to the and international guidelines for pandemic recovery through forest-based solutions.
A diverse and inclusive dialogue
The event drew engagement from government ministries, academia, the private sector, NGOs, and youth representatives. Perspectives ranged from biodiversity conservation and community outreach to private land management and green economy innovation.
The participatory approach ensured that the future national strategy reflects a wide range of interests and builds ownership across institutions. Working groups collaborated to formulate preliminary action plans and project ideas tailored to Mauritius’s needs.
Toward a national forest financing strategy
The workshop outcomes will serve as the foundation for a draft National Forest Financing Strategy for Mauritius, to be validated and finalized in the coming months. The strategy will support national efforts to scale up investment in forest conservation, ecosystem services, and green recovery pathways.
UNFFS and national partners will continue to collaborate to refine the strategy and promote its integration into broader development planning frameworks.
Read the concept note for more information on the workshop.