Environmental Stresses in
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New office blocks in |
Prior to independence
(1968), Although population
growth levelled off fairly quickly, the resultant high population density and
rapid economic development have meant that greater demands have been made on
the environment in Urbanisation has
encroached on agricultural and forested lands, water is not yet scarce but
massive investment is needed to keep up with growing demands. Until fairly
recently, the treatment of domestic and industrial sewage was lagging and part
of it was left untreated, flowing directly into the surrounding lagoon. However, over the years
the sewage network has been extended and will cover half of the island. Raw
sewage is now being treated at the |
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Heavily urbanised
coastline Cap Malheureux |
The tourism industry and other
related business activities have developed mainly on fragile coastal zones. The greater
importance beaches and the sea have acquired as leisure centres for the
population over the years, the increased number of tourists on the island and
the pressure from property developers for more coastal land place
considerable pressure on coastal ecosystems. It is urgent to address
the issues of coastal zone management, tourist development and access to
beaches by the public before the situation becomes inextricable. |
Hotel directly on
beachhead Northern coast |
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Coastal works in lagoon
west coast |
Agriculture and sugar, still
important for the economy, are heavily dependent on very
important inputs of fertilisers
and herbicides of which Industrial fishing also
is important for the country, especially now since it is a major contributor
to the countrys Gross Domestic Product. |
Tea fields Bois Cherie
- (courtesy |
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Derelict wooden houses in
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The management of solid waste
consists mainly of dumping the wastes after compaction in a landfill that was
opened in 1999 at Mare Chicose. It is an
improvement on the previous practices of open-air dumps most of which are now
closed. A foreign consortium has recently proposed to Government plans to
incinerate waste for the production of power. Recycling is still in its
infancy and few recycling plants exist. But in the coming years, it is
expected that recycling will become more common place. Indeed, the size of
the island and its limited capacity to absorb an ever-growing quantity of
waste makes recycling inevitable. |
Open air dump in Poudre
DOr Now closed |
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View of |
The number of vehicles on
the roads has shot up
dramatically over the past few decades. The inevitable result is congestion
on the roads, traffic jams and increased journey time to and from work at peak
times in spite of a spectacular improvement in the local road network. |
Road Traffic in |
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Electrical Power generation is principally
dependent on coal and oil as around 70% of electricity generated is from
those fossil fuels. The remainder comes from hydroelectric power and bagasse (the fibrous residue left after the processing of
sugar cane). Renewable energy sources have not been developed sufficiently,
though sugar-cane factories have burned bagasse for
years to generate electric power. |
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La |
Along with this picture of
increasing environmental problems and stresses due to a modern way of life,
there is also the need to preserve a unique fauna and flora that have evolved over
millions of years, spectacular scenery, beautiful lagoons, beaches and
forests for the enjoyment of all. One must not forget that being an oceanic
country, |
The Kestrel Endemic to |
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Public protest march
against a proposed solid waste incinerator project La Chaumiere
May 2009 |
But there is hope;
citizens become much more aware of the need to address environmental
problems. Government, non-governmental organisations, research institutions
and even private companies get involved in environmental work to ensure that
our country remains viable. Welcome to |
Ilot Benitiers
West coast |
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Date on the web: 22nd
of January 1998 Last update: 4th
of November 2011 |
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