Beach villas in Mauritius are undoubtedly amongst the most valued properties on the island. Their waterfront location forms part of precious coastal and marine assets enjoying firm and sustained government protection.
This official stance is, of course, quite comforting for beachfront homeowners, as well as reassuring for aspiring investors on similar seaside homes. For its 2020-2021 budget, the government has allocated MUR736 million to protect the island’s beaches, lagoons, and coral reefs. This allocation also covers the cleaning of rivers, drains, roads, and public sites. It will likewise fund stabilisation works for landslide-prone areas.
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Meet the government’s beach guardians
The country’s previous budget also notably created a centralised government body to coordinate the cleaning of beaches, lagoons, and drains, amongst other public areas. This body’s activities are implemented via a multi-sectoral approach and community participation. In 2019, the agency spearheaded a national beautification and cleaning campaign.
The government likewise banks on its Beach Authority formed in 2002 to manage the 130 public beaches in Mauritius. Its main tasks include ensuring that these beaches, as well as 12 others in Rodrigues Island, are clean and safe. This agency likewise ensures that the local beaches are maintained sustainably, thereby helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Mauritius zealously guards its coastal and maritime assets that boost the value of oceanfront properties. Image: Vimal Chintamunnee
NGOs mobilise local communities
Besides these government agencies, several NGOs organise community projects protecting the island’s beaches and marine assets. Beach villa owners, for instance, can join or support activities of the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society. For nearly 30 years, this NGO has been working to safeguard the Mauritius marine ecosystems.
The Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) is another conservation-focused NGO helping preserve the country’s marine environment. Its projects include not only scientific research to advise government policies but also ways to nurture the island’s waters. Towards this goal, the institute extends skills training to the local community and the tourism industry for coral culture on the island’s reefs.
The nonprofit Reef Conservation Mauritius is another private-sector guardian to the coastal and marine environment of the island. Besides research and education projects, this nonprofit also mobilises volunteers from local communities to participate in various conservation activities.
Hopes pinned on blue bonds
The clout of investors looms as another factor that bodes well for grooming the coastal and marine assets of Mauritius. The government is set to issue blue bonds to raise funding for marine and ocean-based projects with environmental, economic and climate benefits. Many countries have successfully issued such financial instruments, indicating investor appetite for these bonds helping promote sustainable development.
By and large, oceanfront properties are integral to the coastal and marine assets that Mauritius strives to nurture and protect. The beach villas are but some of the prime real estate choices benefitting from this drive towards a sustainable ecosystem. Contact 2Futures for the picks where you can enjoy the most out of coastal living.
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