Regenesis project: Placing biodiversity at the heart of ER Group

ER Group is placing biodiversity at the core of its business decisions through its Regenesis programme. The Indian Ocean is one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots, yet also among the most vulnerable. In Mauritius, the programme reflects the Group’s role as a long-term economic actor working to preserve natural assets.

Regenesis was awarded the Fonds Business-Biodiversité Océan Indien grant and forms part of the Varuna Programme, led by Expertise France and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
 

About the Regenesis project
 

In 2024, ER Group was selected as a beneficiary of the Indian Ocean Business Biodiversity Fund and awarded €500,000 under the Varuna programme. This funding enabled the launch of Regenesis, structured around four strategic areas: awareness, expertise and studies, field projects, and collaborative dialogue.
 

1. Awareness

ER Group runs immersive workshops and uses tools such as the “Fresque de la biodiversité” to engage and educate employees and the public. These initiatives promote deeper awareness of challenges and encourage personal commitment to biodiversity preservation.
 

1.1 Interactive workshops with employees
 

In 2024, ER Group, in collaboration with House of Digital Art (HODA), organised an immersive workshop titled “La biodiversité dans nos assiettes”. Combining art and technology, the experience helped participants better understand biodiversity and the role each of us plays in protecting it.  Nearly 300 employees across the Group took part.

Watch the event highlights here.
 

To extend this learning, the Group is collaborating with Axa Climate School, which provides online courses aimed at educating and engaging employees on the urgency of climate change. In addition, seven employees have been trained as certified facilitators of the “Fresque de la biodiversité”, a three-hour collaborative workshop designed to raise awareness about the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss. This internal expertise enables the Group to organise sessions and reach a wider number of employees.

 

1.2 Raising awareness among the public
 

ER Group organised the largest “Fresque de la Biodiversité” session held in Mauritius, bringing together more than 80 participants from the public sector, private sector, NGOs and cultural organisations. It focused on building shared understanding and encouraging everyday actions to protect and restore ecosystems.

Learn more in this video.

In 2025, ER Group organised the ‘Festival du Vivant’, an immersive forum exploring the intersection of art, biodiversity preservation, and civic engagement. The two-day event was held in collaboration with HODA and Odysseo. Around 2,700 people attended, including participants, speakers and facilitators. The event opened the programme to a wider audience and encouraged broader participation.

Step into the experience through this video.


2. Expertise and studies
 

ER Group is strengthening the role of science in its approach to biodiversity. The Group collaborates with the Indian Ocean Islands Foundation to develop a MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) framework, also known as SERA (Suivi-Évaluation et Redevabilité Apprentissage). This work reviews existing reporting mechanisms to better measure progress and assess the impact of the Group’s climate and nature strategy. It also supports continuous learning, helps refine decision-making and establishes key performance indicators, starting with the Regenesis project. 

Moreover, ER Group completed its first Biodiversity Footprint Assessment with Carbone 4, a French consulting firm. The study assessed how the Group’s activities depend on and affect biodiversity and identified related risks and opportunities. These initiatives provide tools to support decision-making at the Group level and place climate and nature at the heart of the Group’s development strategy.

 

3. Field projects


In Bel Ombre, the Jacotet River and its surrounding ecosystems are being restored through Regenesis. In collaboration with Reef Conservation, GroundTruth and NatureMetrics, the project uses tools such as environmental DNA (eDNA) to better understand ecosystem dynamics, improve water retention, reduce erosion, and support biodiversity recovery.

This project also contributes to the wider initiative under the RECOS (Résilience des populations et des écosystèmes côtiers du Sud-Ouest de l’océan Indien) project, “From Ridge to Reef: a holistic ecosystem-based Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach”, implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission and funded by AFD and the Fonds français pour l'environnement mondial (FFEM).

Watch how we are contributing to the restoration of the ecological health of the Jacotet River.
 

ER Group is also promoting agroecological principles to support more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems adapted to the Mauritian context. In collaboration with the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture (MCA), the Group supports farmers across the island in adopting practices that strengthen agricultural landscapes.

Learn more about this project.
 

4. Collaborative dialogue
 

A dedicated dialogue platform will take place, bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore biodiversity-related challenges, co-develop solutions, and foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing.


Alignment with ER Group’s Sustainability Framework
 

Regenesis supports the biodiversity pillar of ER Group’s Climate Resilience strategy, which forms part of the Group’s Sustainability framework. The programme links present action to long-term value for ecosystems, communities and the economy, and contributes to responsible progress.