UN80 in Mauritius

As the United Nations marks 80 years of service worldwide, the UN family in Mauritius brought the anniversary to life through three initiatives focused on sustainability and partnership: environmental restoration at La Vallée de Ferney, dialogue with the private sector and youth at the UN–MCCI roundtable, and a city clean‑up tackling cigarette‑butt pollution in Port Louis.

Rooted in Nature: “80 Trees for UN80” at La Vallée de Ferney

The UN80 celebrations began on 24 October 2025 — UN Day — at La Vallée de Ferney, a living example of conservation success and community-led environmental restoration.

In partnership with La Vallée de Ferney, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, and with support from the GEF Small Grants Programme, UN staff and partners participated in the planting of “80 Trees for UN80.” The initiative symbolized the UN’s enduring roots in sustainable development and its forward-looking commitment to climate resilience and biodiversity protection.

The site itself tells a powerful story. Once overrun by invasive species, nine hectares of native ebony forest have been rehabilitated through science-based conservation and local community engagement. Endemic plant species have been restored, rare wildlife protected, and local jobs created, demonstrating how environmental sustainability and livelihoods can advance together.

Each tree planted under the UN80 initiative was linked symbolically to the SDGs, serving as a living legacy grounded in local action and global ambition. Beyond planting, participants engaged in hands-on learning, from nursery practices to sustainable land management, reinforcing how community expertise and ecological science combine to create lasting impact.

Driving Sustainable Growth: UN–MCCI Roundtable on Partnerships

As part of the UN80 programme, attention then turned to the role of the private sector, education, and youth in shaping tomorrow’s development pathways.

At the MCCI Business School in Ebène, the UN and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) convened a roundtable on “Fostering Partnerships for Sustainable Development.” The dialogue brought together business leaders, students, higher education institutions, and UN agencies to explore how sustainability is redefining what business success means.

For Mauritius, a small island developing state exposed to climate, economic and global shocks, sustainability is both an imperative and an opportunity. The discussion highlighted how Mauritian companies are already leading in green innovation, sustainable finance, circular economy solutions and responsible value chains, positioning the country as a regional model.

UN agencies shared concrete examples of collaboration with the private sector, from ethical recruitment and skills mobility to climate‑smart agriculture, entrepreneurship, ecosystem restoration and SDG‑aligned investment. A strong message emerged: sustainability is no longer an add‑on — it is a source of competitiveness, resilience and social value.

Central to the discussion was the role of youth and education. By linking students to real‑world sustainability practices, the UN‑MCCI partnership aims to nurture a new generation of leaders who see collaboration, ethics and innovation as core to development.

Cleaning the Capital: Citizen Action in Port Louis

The UN80 celebrations concluded with a symbolic yet powerful public action in the heart of the capital.

On 31 October 2025, UN agencies, the NGO VISA, the Municipality of Port Louis, and dozens of volunteers came together to collect cigarette butts from the streets surrounding the Port Louis Municipal Council.

Often overlooked, cigarette butts are the world’s most littered item, releasing toxic chemicals and microplastics that pollute water systems and harm marine life. In Mauritius, their prevalence also reflects a deeper public health challenge.

This initiative linked SDG 3 (Good Health and Well‑Being) with environmental protection and responsible citizenship. It complemented Mauritius’s strong leadership in tobacco control, including its early ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and recent adoption of plain packaging and smoke‑free public spaces.

The UN80 clean‑up transformed UN Day into a moment of shared responsibility, reminding citizens that individual choices have collective consequences, for health, the environment and sustainable development.

Together, these three initiatives captured the spirit of UN80 in Mauritius: rooted in local realities, driven by partnerships, and focused on tangible impact.