Vieux Grand Port Landscape, Heritage and Community - Revitalising a village
26.11.2025
SUBMITTING ORGANIZATION
Our Heritage Foundation
DATE OF SUBMISSION
07/2025
REGION
Africa
COUNTRY
Mauritius
KEYWORDS
Landscape, seascape, heritage, community, sustainability
AUTHORS
Dr. Jayshree Mungur-Medhi, Our Heritage Foundation
Ms. Cheshta Hoolash, Our Heritage Foundation
Summary Sheet
The summary sheet for this case study is available here.
Introduction
Vieux Grand Port Landscape, Heritage and Community is a project initiated by Our Heritage Foundation (OHF) in the coastal village of Vieux Grand Port. It is a project with a holistic and integrated approach, with local villagers, their culture and heritage within the landscape and seascape. This case study demonstrates how OHF integrates ecological stewardship with heritage and cultural revival to enhance the local community’s resilience to reach sustainability. It aligns with the Satoyama Initiative’s principles.
Background
Located on the southeast coast of the island of Mauritius, the village of Vieux Grand Port (VGP) is an exceptional place, where the connection between culture and nature is deeply interwined. The village has a unique landscape with the majestic Lion Mountain on one side and the sea with its bay and mangroves on the other. The area has biodiverse endemic plants on the mountain. There is also a rich marine biodiversity, including mangroves and marine life.
Mauritian history begins in Vieux Grand Port.The area, with its mountain and sea, witnessed the arrival of the first human settlers on the island in the 16th century, when the Dutch first landed in 1598. Following the departure of the Dutch, the French took over in 1715. The area was inhabited by French colonisers and the enslaved people brought along to work on the island. This area also witnessed the arrival of the British, who took over the island in 1810. The archaeological sites in the village are testimonies of the first settlement. These sites and monuments narrate this history of the island.
Amidst all this natural beauty and history, is a vivbrant and dynamic community. The village is further enriched by the living heritage, vivid among the inhabitants. Their traditional knowledge and skills relating to the sea, traditional fishing, boat-making, basketry and other elements of intangible cultural heritage contribute to the heritage of the region.
Despite VGP’s natural and cultural assets, the area has experienced economic stagnation and ecological pressures, which was intensified since the Wakashio incident. Social problems, such as unemployment, alcoholism and drug abuse persist. The area is also underdeveloped and lacks infrastructure and basic social services. Moreover, there is a gradual loss of traditions and culture. Heritage sites are neglected and falling into dilapidated conditions, a process accelerated by climatic change.
With all these above-mentioned factors in mind, OHF has launched this pilot project to preserve and promote the village’s unique identity, landscape and seascape while empowering the local community and creating sustainable livelihoods for them in their space. This project was developed following an in-depth study of the village’s history, culture and landscape through research, site observations and surveys as well as several consultations with the local inhabitants in 2021. Since 2022, OHF has been working towards the fulfilment of objectives enlisted below.
Such an integrated and holistic approach is the first ever conceptualised project in Mauritius. It fosters nature-, heritage- and community-based tourism. It is also the first project to promote community and catering for the conservation and uplisfment of their spaces.
Socioeconomic, environmental characteristics of the area: including benefits and threats to human-nature relationships
The region has a breathtaking landscape and seascape with rich ecosystems consisting of mountains, mangroves, coral reefs and islets. Unfortunately, the natural environment is slowly losing its charm due to climatic conditions but even more due to human-caused calamities, such as the Wakashio oil spill incident, and now alarmingly, an insensitive urban encroachment on the landscape.
Vieux Grand Port consists mainly of a fishing community. The majority of residents depend on artisanal fishing or related activities such as boat-making and making nets and fish-cages. Families, including men, women and children, are all involved in sea-related activities. Hence, many of the villagers depend on the sea-based resources and activities. As such, the work and livelihoods of a major group are seasonal, revolving around fishing, farming and artisanal work. Nevertheless, the artisans are under-resourced and are not empowered enough to search for markets, resulting in limited sales of their products.
Several heritage sites narrate the rich history of the area and the island. However, many of these need rapid intervention as they are falling into dilapidated conditions. These historical and archaeological sites, which can serve as important resources to develop heritage tourism and a sustainable tourism industry, need to be researched, preserved and promoted.
The local community are very dependent on the natural and cultural resources. For a sustainable livelihood of the people, there is a need for conservation of the natural and cultural resources and empowerment of the local community for diversification of the economy, to develop adaptation strategies and to form part of the conservation plans of their resources.
Objective and rationale: including intended outcomes
The goal of this project is to conserve the cultural and natural resources alongside the community for the benefit of the latter. The village has very important natural and cultural assets which need to be protected, nurtured and lived.
With this main goal, OHF has set up several objectives:
- Conservation of cultural heritage sites
- Conservation and restoration of the mangroves
- Documentation and Transmission of Living Heritage
- Empower local communities for community-based and heritage-based tourism.
- Diversify livelihoods (especially for fishermen and artisans) rooted in local identit and ecological stewardship
- Make the village sustainable and adopt more ecological practices.
- Create a chain of products within the community which nourishes each other through the process of regenerative tourism.
- Market the products produced in VGP as a label and example of a sustainable and circular economy.
- Establishing a sustainable and regenerative heritage tourism model for the village of VGP and setting an example for other villages to follow
Detailed description of activities: including how the case study is in line with the conceptual framework of the Satoyama Initiative
Vieux Grand Port Landscape, Heritage and Community is a project initiated in 2021, and despite being a new member of the Satoyama, this project is in line with the conceptual framework of the initiatives and goals set by Satoyama. It is not only a project which promotes sustainable management of socio-ecological production of landscapes and seascapes but also sustainable management of heritage and cultural resources, which in fact are deeply rooted in the natural resources.
The main IPSI activity cluster(s) addressed are:
- Knowledge Facilitation
- Policy Research
- Indicators Research
- Capacity Building
- On-the-Ground Activities
With the goal and objectives enlisted in 3.4, OHF has set up a list of tasks in its agenda:
- Development of Natural and Cultural Heritage Trails
- Outreach and awareness creation on ecology, biodiversity, history & heritage through talks, educational programmes, seminars, heritage camps and other activities for locals and other Mauritians
- Capacity-building and empowerment of local artisans, women, entrepreneurs and youth
- Survey, conservation and restoration of the mangroves and marine biodiversity
- Research and conservation of the terrestrial biodiversity (in the mountains)
- Train local inhabitants in ecological stewardship and guardianship
- Research and conservation of heritage sites
- Documentation and Transmission of Living Heritage
- Community networking
- Empowering the local community to set up small businesses such as table d’hôte, providing residential facilities to visitors, and producing local products and souvenirs
- Setting up a souvenir shop and workshop space for continuous training and empowering
- Empower local community in recycling
- Empower women in upcycling papers
- Coastal management
- Preparing a masterplan for the village and its surroundings to plan development and avoid adverse impact of future development
- Publication of a pamphlet on the trails
- Publication of a book and comic book on the natural and cultural heritage of VGP
Since the initiation of the project, we have faced both successes and failures. However, the failures helped us to build more resilience and come up with adaptation strategies, further enriching the project. The list of tasks keeps on growing as we learn through our failures and lacunae to improve the project for a more holistic and integrated approach.
Achievements
- Awareness creation among local inhabitants of the richness, values and vulnerability of the resources around them, which is being undertaken through regular and continuous outreach programmes.
- Gaining the trust of the community and being accepted by the locals to be among them and work with them, which led to a strong relationship between OHF and the local community of VGP, the Village Council and even the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which envisages supporting projects in the region.
- Empowerment of local artisans, especially women, fishermen and entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs through OHF’s regenerative tourism workshop.
- Documentation and transmission of traditional making through the support of the Heritage Management Organisation and the Mellon Foundation, who are funding this project.
- Increased awareness in environment protection and the importance of heritage.
- Developing a partnership with a travel agency to bring in foreign tourists for talks and discover the landscapes of VGP, thus helping in local economy
- Entrepreneurship – Enabling few inhabitants to become small entrepreenurs to provide basic services and facilities, such as the setting up of a table d’hôte by a woman, the development of catering services by two other women, and the provision of a residential space by one inhabitant.
- Identification of a space for a souvenir shop-cum-workshop space in the village and beginning of negotiation with the owner
Failures
The project is witnessing some delays but not failures.
Since last year, OHF has been trying to secure funds to set up the souvenir shop where locals can display and sell their products. Unfortunately, we couldn’t secure the funds yet. Expectations among the villagers to see this shop are growing. OHF is sednig several applications to seek funding for this element of the project.
Getting the approval from the government to partner with JICA.
Funding/resource mobilisation
- OHF is constantly applying internationally for different funding possibilities.
- OHF is benefiting from funding from the Mellon Foundation through Heritage Management in Italy for the Documentation and Transmission of Traditional Boat Making in the village of Vieux Grand Port.
- OHF has also received funding through EPCO from The Ocean Foundation, USA, to undertake an outreach programme to empower the locals on regenerative tourism.
- OHF is approaching the big companies in the southeastregion to contribute financially to this project.
- OHF organises regular trails, camps and talks in the area to generate a small amount for the administrative costs of this project.
Key messages
The key message of the project is to enable sustainable community development while preserving heritage and ecology, and Vieux Grand Port is showing that this is very possible.
OHF has a dedicated team, so dedicated that we are engaged ourselves without financial means and support and no livelihoods for ourselves. But we believe in the project and believe in the possibility of developing a responsible community-based tourism project which can support the natural and cultural resources. Hence, we are perceiving in our démarche.
OHF needs financial support to encourage the team and the villagers and support the project.
Up to now much has been done through small fundraising activities and services that the team members are offering, which allow the organisation to keep on running and keep on working in the village. However, it does not support the major elements of the project, and the team members find themselves in personal financial difficulties.
This project is possible; we believe in it. However, we need support.
References and bibliography
The International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) -. (2019). The International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI). [online] Available at: https://satoyamainitiative.org/
OHF Website Link: https://ourheritage.foundation/
Web links of any relevant organizations and projects
Collaborators and partners
I. Vieux Grand Port Village Council and councillors
II. Pandanus Women Association (local villagers’ association)
III. Local entrepreneurs
IV. Local fishermen
V. Local boat makers family
VI. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Author’s profiles
Jayshree Mungur-Medhi is an archaeologist, a cultural heritage management professional and a UNESCO expert in living heritage, but she is also well-versed in geology and biodiversity. She is formed in an integrated and holistic approach to heritage and experienced in project management. She is the project manager for VGP project.
Cheshta Hoolash is a heritage professional. She is formed in heritage, tourism and sustainable island development. She is the coordinator, PR and contact person for the VGP project.
OHF is a registered foundation since 2020 with 3 council members and core team members, including Cheshta Hoolash, Jayshree Mungur-Medhi and Nipon Medhi, the founder, who is responsible for infrastructure and technological expertise in the team. It has a network of professionals who advise and assist in projects when needed and a team of 10 volunteers to assist in the Vieux Grand Port project.