Mauritian Media at the Heart of Climate Resilience
Title: Mauritian Media at the Heart of Climate Resilience
Content: Over three days, a workshop aims to enhance coverage of climate change and disaster management.
From October 27 to 29, Mauritius will host a workshop organized by the African Union of Broadcasting (UAB) and UNESCO, focused on small island developing states (SIDS) in the region. Journalists, experts, and institutional representatives will convene at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel to share experiences, strategies, and best practices in climate journalism and disaster risk reduction.
Titled the UAB-UNESCO Media Development and Training Programme for African SIDS, this initiative connects four countries: Mauritius, Comoros, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. Despite their geographical distance, these nations share the same vulnerabilities: rising sea levels, cyclones, droughts, floods… increasingly frequent threats that undermine ecosystems, infrastructures, and communities.
The project's ambition is clear: to equip the media to become resilience actors. Beyond informing, journalists are now mediators, educators, and sentinels, tasked with alerting, contextualizing, and guiding citizens in the face of climate upheavals.
According to the program's concept note, the initiative unfolds in three phases: an online training in August on climate journalism, microfinancing to support content production in each island, and the development of disaster preparedness plans. This culminates in the in-person workshop designed to enhance capacities and foster collaboration between island nations.
The Défi Media Group is among the media beneficiaries. Over two months, the team has worked on two deliverables: a six-minute documentary on coral restoration and a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP). The aim is to protect staff, ensure editorial continuity, and provide reliable information even in times of crisis.
Central to this plan are several key measures: a disaster data recovery site located in the center of the island; the possibility of remote work during extreme events; a strategy to shift to digital platforms if printing becomes unfeasible; and a network of "citizen journalists" responsible for relaying local information when professional teams are hindered.
These practical and complementary tools serve to remind us that in the emerging climate era, information is not just a service; it is a pillar of resilience.
The Commitment of Défi Media Group
With this project, combining documentary and preparedness plan, Défi Media Group positions itself as a committed actor against climate change in Mauritius. Through training, research, and responsible content creation, the group underscores the key role of media in preventing, preparing for, and adapting to environmental disasters.
Corals: The Fragile Renaissance
Beneath the turquoise surface of our lagoons beats a discreet yet essential heart: that of around 160 species of corals that host a rich biodiversity. Colorful fish, sea turtles, crustaceans… an entire world revolves around these reefs, a world now in peril.
This is what the documentary "Corals: The Fragile Renaissance" reveals, made within the UAB-UNESCO program. In six minutes, this film offers a journey as beautiful as it is brutal, exposing the fragility of this emblematic ecosystem and the threats it faces.
From the first images, the tone is set: bleached reefs, destroyed formations, dying corals. Researchers from the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) – including Oocheetsing Sadasing and Sarvanen Curpen – testify to the climate shock that occurred in 2025. This year, rising marine temperatures caused a massive bleaching event affecting nearly 80% of the corals in the Mauritian lagoon. A staggering statistic.
However, the documentary does not stop at the grim reality. With a resolutely constructive approach, it highlights the rehabilitation and transplantation projects led by MOI, supported by several NGOs. Underwater footage allows the audience to discover coral nurseries, true underwater gardens where tiny fragments are cultivated and replanted to gradually regenerate damaged reefs.
Scientists remind us that these efforts will be in vain if warming continues its course. Hence, the importance of their research on the thermal resilience of corals, a crucial issue for better anticipating their capacity to adapt.
Beyond data and protocols, the documentary carries a civic message: everyone has a role to play. The film emphasizes the collaboration between media and researchers to make these often complex issues accessible. It reminds us of an obvious truth that is easily forgotten: corals are not merely a postcard backdrop. "They protect our coasts, nourish our families, and embody our island identity."
Presented at the UAB-UNESCO workshop, this documentary aims to be both an educational tool and a call to action. It demonstrates the power of images to foster collective awareness and proves that in environmental matters, information can become an act of resilience.
A Co-production Titled "Islands in Peril"
Alongside the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Al-Watwan Presse Edition (Comoros), Défi Media Group signs a co-production called "Islands in Peril", which sheds light on the dangers posed by climate change at the regional level.
Each media outlet explores a specific angle:
- Défi Media Group focuses on coral degradation,
- MBC examines flooding and risks for populations,
- while in Comoros, the documentary highlights the gradual disappearance of mangroves.
This series will be presented on Monday, October 27 during the workshop at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel. An event where the voice of the islands will resonate, reminding us, with images to support it, that what is unfolding beneath our feet – and beneath our waters – concerns us all.