ER Group selected for Indian Ocean Biodiversity Fund

ER Group selected for the Indian Ocean Business Biodiversity Fund

ER Group has been selected as a beneficiary of the Indian Ocean Business Biodiversity Fund, part of the Varuna programme led by Expertise France and financed by the Agence française de développement (AFD). This initiative supports projects that address biodiversity loss in the south-west Indian Ocean, a region facing acute environmental pressures. The selection criteria focused on economic viability, replicability across the region, and long-term impact. For ER Group, this marks a new step in its ongoing commitment to biodiversity as outlined in its Sustainability & Inclusive Development (S&ID) programme, with two major projects designed to protect and restore local ecosystems.

Bringing biodiversity into the business strategy

ER Group’s management office has been awarded €500,000 under the Varuna fund. Named Regenesis, the project aims to place biodiversity at the heart of business decisions through concrete actions focused on awareness, restoration and long-term impact.

“Our main goal is to embed biodiversity more deeply into our business strategy to generate a lasting, positive impact on local ecosystems,” says Mickaël Apaya, Head of Climate Resilience and Regeneration at ER Group. “With the support of experts and local NGOs, we are taking concrete action through awareness, restoration and conservation. We believe that every individual can be a driver of change for society.”

Regenesis is built around four strategic pillars:

• Awareness: Interactive tools like the “Fresques de la biodiversité”, “Fresques océane”, along with workshops, will engage more than 300 employees fostering greater awareness and personal commitment. Public sessions will also be organised.
• Expertise and studies: The group will engage experts to make biodiversity a core pillar of its strategic decision-making. This includes carrying out in-depth studies and adopting new methodologies, such as the biodiversity footprint, to assess both the group’s dependence on biodiversity and its impact on ecosystems.
• Collaborative dialogue: A dedicated dialogue platform will be created in Bel Ombre, bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore biodiversity-related challenges, co-develop solutions, and foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
• Field projects in Bel Ombre: Specific biodiversity conservation and restoration projects will be implemented in Bel Ombre. Designed as replicable models, these initiatives aim to generate lasting impact on local ecosystems. These will be made possible through close collaboration with two key partners: the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture and the NGO Reef Conservation.

EcoHaven: ER Agri’s forest restoration project in Moka

ER Agri, the group’s Agribusiness arm, received €224,300 in funding to launch EcoHaven, a two-year forest restoration programme in partnership with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. The project aims to help restore ecological balance in Moka by conserving endemic species, engaging the local community, and creating job opportunities.

“We’re proud to launch EcoHaven in partnership with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. More than a conservation effort, this ambitious project is about restoring ecological balance in Moka while actively engaging and educating the community.” says Mico Tse, Business Development Manager at ER Agri. “We believe it will mark a turning point for the protection of the island’s endemic species and create new employment opportunities for the region.”

EcoHaven programme focuses on six key actions:

• Endemic species inventory: Field teams will survey two forested areas on ER land to map plant diversity and assess threats to endemic flora.
• Specialised nursery: A dedicated nursery for Moka’s moist species will be created to support the propagation of those endemic plants.
• Community employment: Local workers will be recruited for plant collection and nursery operations.
• Restoration planning: A clear roadmap will guide the propagation and long-term protection of native species.
• Conservation measures for invasive species: Actions will include fencing, zoning, and control of invasive threats.
• Education and research: Awareness tools and learning sessions will be developed for ER teams, NGOs, schools, and local communities. The project will also support academic research by facilitating access to forests. Researchers will be able to document local species and study best practices for their protection and propagation.

As a major economic actor, ER Group is committed to playing its part in preserving the island’s biodiversity. These projects reflect a vision of progress that values both environmental and social impact, across Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean region.

About the Varuna Programme

The Indian Ocean is one of the world’s richest regions for biodiversity. But it is also one of the most vulnerable. The Varuna programme, supported by a €2.5 million fund, is designed to back biodiversity-focused projects by businesses and economic actors in Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and the Seychelles.