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Preface Annex 1
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
OVERVIEW OF LAND RESOURCES
The four island countries of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) sub-region have a total land area of 59.2 million ha, 99 per cent of which is Madagascar, the fourth largest island country in the world (UNDP 2004). Large parts of the sub-region are mountainous, rugged and dry.
ENDOWMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The main use of land is agriculture, although this has been steadily declining due to pressures from population growth and industrial development. As shown in Figure 9, only in Madagascar and the Seychelles is the majority of land still used for agriculture. Agriculture contributes 3 per cent and 6 per cent of the GDP for the Seychelles and Mauritius, respectively, and 35 per cent and 41 per cent of the GDP for the Comoros and Madagascar, respectively (FAO 2003).
The pattern of agriculture varies between the islands depending on climatic conditions for producing particular crops. The islands, however, remain net importers of cereals and staples such as rice and potatoes.
Agricultural expansion and tourism were the main growth factors for Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
CHALLENGES FACED IN REALIZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Population growth in WIO countries puts pressure on land, as demonstrated in Box 8. Population growth in Madagascar is predicted to be 2.5 per cent per annum for the period 2003-2015: with the current population at 17.6 million this will give an increase to 23.8 million by 2015 (UNDP 2005). In 2003, population density in Madagascar was 29.9 people per km² (FAO 2005). In contrast, population density in Mauritius was 604.5 people per km² – the highest in Africa (FAO 2005), with the population expected to grow at 0.8 per cent per annum (UNDP 2005).
In Madagascar, frequent drought conditions and seasonal floods from cyclones create food emergencies. Climate change will also increase the pressure on land resources, through less predictable weather conditions and the impact of sea-level rise on the coastal regions, especially in the smaller islands.
The WIO islands are challenged to respond to the NEPAD policy to combat land degradation. This is being done through the Indian Ocean Commission’s (IOC) Environment Programme which calls upon each of the four countries to develop and implement action plans to promote sustained livelihoods and mitigate the past impact of land degradation on other resources. In Madagascar, an environmental awareness programme supports the national conservation strategy, focusing on habitat and biodiversity protection, the creation of a national environmental fund with research projects on land mapping and management, environmental education, training and institutional support.
The sub-region should also develop irrigation; over one million hectares of land has potential for irrigation. In a sub-region where droughts are prevalent, often destroying crops and exacerbating food insecurity, irrigation could be a key factor in enhancing food security.
Enhancing and extending property rights are key challenges for promoting development and conservation. Mauritius and the Seychelles have established more equitable mechanisms for distribution of land with effective protection of land rights. In Mauritius, 90 per cent of the land is privately-owned and more than 85 per cent of people live in owner-occupied property with government- registered deeds. By contrast, in Madagascar, land ownership has been without enforceable land registration, creating difficulties in its use as collateral for investment. This is now changing and land registration is being introduced as part of a general policy to improve land use, to reduce land degradation and short-term exploitation, and to promote the development of investment.
Controlling and managing pollution is important for the tourism sector which is an important part of the economy.