It was at the Younoussa Bamana hemicycle that environmental stakeholders gathered last week for a first Post-Chido meeting. “ We can say it was a good first meeting », Confirms Florent Forestier, administrator of the Mahoraise Federation of Environmental Associations (FMAE), president of Yes We Can Nette and secretary general of Mayotte Nature Environnement.
« Now, we must overcome the conflicts of interest between the different structures which all want to have the environmental lead and be up to the situation.. »And the situation is critical. Even before the recent disasters, Mayotte was already facing major environmental challenges: waste management, deforestation, erosion, lack of means to protect ecosystems. “ The storms accelerated the collapse of an already fragile balance », Continues the president of Yes We Can Nette. “ Food crops have been destroyed, worsening food insecurity. Nature and humans are inseparable. If one collapses, the other follows… But today, the breadfruit trees, the banana trees… everything has been swept away. There is nothing left to feed families », he warns. This rapid deterioration of living conditions highlights the urgency of rethinking agricultural practices and restoring ecosystems.
In these multiple crises, the one who presents himself with his triple hat, alerts: “ The first priority is to feed people. However, despite announcements of aid, their distribution remains blocked. Associations cannot receive donations without the agreement of the authorities. It's absurd. Meanwhile, people are hungry. » Faced with this situation, a complete action plan will be submitted to senators and ministries by the end of the week. “ We must release food aid and above all allow structures accustomed to the field to act quickly in isolated areas. “, he insists. “ Otherwise, we risk hunger riots. »
Yes We Can Nette au front
In response to this emergency, the eco-solidarity association Yes We Can Nette mobilized from the very first hours. “ We do the most we can with our means. Currently, we distribute food aid to more than 200 people every day thanks to a team of 25 volunteers, 8 civic services and 5 employees », Specifies the president of the association Florent Forestier.
The association, born in 2016, fights against the proliferation of waste, raises environmental awareness, and implements food solidarity actions, and has also set up a vast cleaning program for disaster areas. “ We have intensified our cleaning operations in rivers and neighborhoods affected by bad weather. Waste accumulates, and health risks increase. We see dangerous mixtures of animal carcasses and batteries which pollute the soil and the lagoon. It is a priority to act quickly. »
Yes We Can Nette has also launched awareness programs aimed at young people and residents. “ We organize awareness workshops on waste management, preservation of mangroves and coral reefs. These ecosystems are essential for the resilience of our territory in the face of storms. » Despite these efforts, the needs are immense. “ We should quadruple our capacities. We will not be able to hold on without massive support. We are ready, but we need the means. We need funding to purchase cleaning equipment, seeds for farmers and basic necessities for families. »
For decentralization of decisions
Florent Forestier defends local crisis management. The pressure on the environment is extreme. “ We are creating mountains of waste, toxic mixtures which are infiltrating the soil and polluting the lagoon. », warns Florent Forestier. Associations, including Yes We Can Netteare increasing initiatives: cleaning rivers, monitoring illegal dumping, health alerts. “ If nothing is done, an ecological and health disaster awaits us. »
Deforestation makes the situation worse. “ Cyclones are becoming more violent, and without plant cover, the soils are deteriorating. Local agriculture is on its knees. We must replant intelligently to protect land and biodiversity. Decisions must be made here, with those who know the realities on the ground. » The action plan which will be submitted to senators includes concrete measures: strengthening food aid, relaunching sustainable agriculture, waste management and restoration of ecosystems.
« Local environmental stakeholders are ready: we simply must stop this system of vertical decision-making in the management of overseas territories. This plan is a call to the State: release budgets, trust local actors. We know what to do, but we need the means to act. This centralized model, which imposes decisions from Paris without real knowledge of the field, slows down the responsiveness and effectiveness of interventions. »
During the meeting on December 9, the main environmental stakeholders in Mayotte came together under the leadership of the FMAE to organize an effective response. “ The idea is that everyone takes charge of what they know best: the forest, the turtles, the waste. We can no longer work in silos », concludes Florent Forestier. Thematic working groups were thus created to strengthen coordination. These teams should get into battle order in the coming weeks and will therefore be one to watch.
Abby Said Adinani
