Casela Nature Parks hosted the third edition of the Biodiversity Workshop on 15 and 16 October, under the theme “Where Science Meets Strategy for Biodiversity.” Organised in close collaboration with Business Mauritius, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and GET Impact Services Ltd, the event once again brought together representatives from the private sector, scientists, NGOs and public institutions around a shared objective: to better harness scientific knowledge to inform decision-making and advance biodiversity conservation in Mauritius.
Since its launch at the initiative of Casela Nature Parks, the Biodiversity Workshop – Uniting for Nature has sought to bring together economic, scientific and institutional stakeholders to make biodiversity a shared priority. The first two editions laid the foundations for this dialogue, focusing in particular on integrating biodiversity into corporate strategies and the need for collective action. This third edition marks a new milestone. Having previously explored why and how biodiversity should be integrated into corporate strategies, the focus now shifts to understanding the scientific knowledge on which decisions should be based and how this knowledge can be translated into concrete action.
Making Science a Driver of Decision-Making and Action
Amid the degradation of ecosystems and growing pressure on natural resources, the willingness to act is not enough. It is also essential to understand how ecosystems function, the interactions between species, the pressures exerted by human activities, and the conditions required for their preservation or restoration. Scientific research, the expertise of researchers and field observations play a vital role in this process. They help deepen our understanding of ecosystems, identify priorities, guide interventions and assess their effectiveness over time. For businesses and public decision-makers alike, the challenge is to make better use of existing scientific knowledge and research, make it more accessible, and facilitate its integration into strategic and operational decisions.
Over two days of discussion and shared learning, participants explored how scientific research can inform corporate strategies and strengthen national strategic decision-making. The programme combined expert presentations, exchanges between researchers and businesses, collaborative participatory mapping workshops, and a field visit to the Mondrain Nature Reserve, a major biodiversity hotspot in Mauritius currently undergoing restoration by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. This field experience provided a practical illustration of how scientific knowledge guides restoration decisions, from identifying species and selecting plant material to propagation techniques, habitat management and the long-term monitoring of results.
A Collective Commitment Rooted in Casela and the Medine Group’s Values
As part of the Medine Group, Casela Nature Parks places biodiversity at the heart of its mission, through both its awareness-raising and conservation activities and its commitment to fostering collaboration among relevant stakeholders. This approach also forms part of the Group’s broader reflection on ecosystem preservation and the integration of natural capital into the management of its activities and landholdings. Martine Lasémillante, Sustainability Officer at Casela Nature Parks, welcomed the collective commitment and the work accomplished: “Organising an event of this kind is above all the result of tremendous teamwork. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of the Medine and Casela teams, as well as all our partners, who came together with passion to bring this third edition to life. This annual gathering demonstrates the true power of collaboration: by bringing businesses, researchers and civil society around the same table, we create a constructive space where everyone can contribute to advancing sustainability in Mauritius.”
For Thierry Arékion, Managing Director of Casela Nature Parks, this initiative is driven by a genuine commitment to learning and sharing: “At Casela, we are fully aware of the scale of today’s ecological challenges. Through this third edition, our primary aim is to create a space for dialogue, listening and learning alongside scientists and our partners. This workshop demonstrates that no stakeholder can act in isolation: by building lasting bridges between scientific research and economic realities, we can, step by step, contribute to protecting our island’s natural heritage.” The workshop also showcased initiatives and organisations committed to preserving Mauritius’ natural and cultural heritage through an open exhibition featuring conservation stakeholders, including The Herbarium of Mauritius, Reef Conservation, ABAIM, Enn Zour dans enn Pei and the Art & Design Institute. The artistic dimension was also celebrated through a mini-concert featuring Rampage for Love (Zoë Rozar and Artists) and ABAIM, bringing together artists who use music to raise awareness of biodiversity and the preservation of our natural heritage.
Beyond these two days, the ambition remains to strengthen connections between those who generate knowledge, those who make decisions and those who take action on the ground. By placing science and teamwork at the heart of the discussions, Casela and all its partners reaffirm that Mauritius’ environmental resilience depends on shared efforts. The initiatives launched and the ideas explored during these two days will help inform future restoration, research and awareness-raising projects across the island.
