This study assesses changes in coastal risk reduction and adaptation-labelled responses in Mauritius Island since the 1960s. Using research documents, interviews, field observations, image analysis, and case studies, it analyses evolutions in public and private stakeholders’ strategies, and the levers and barriers at play. Based on 60 beach sites, it reveals the prevalence (76.7%) of hard protection compared with no response (8.3%), ecosystem-based responses (3.3%), and combined responses (11.7%) and a nation-wide shift from hard and one-size-fits-all responses to soft and place-specific responses. This shift was driven by the failure of initial hard protection measures, which has pushed the Government of Mauritius to improve beach management practices, promote retreat where hard protection had failed, resort to external expertise and funding to design a well-informed risk reduction and adaptation policy, and implement demonstration projects. The “learning-by-doing” process and increased external support have thus allowed progress in risk reduction and adaptation at publicly managed beach sites. In contrast, privately managed (i.e. by residents and hotel companies) beach sites often exhibit increased risks, as a result of the proliferation of uncoordinated technical interventions, related cascading (beach loss, spread of coastal erosion downdrift), and lock-in effects. This study provides guidance for the ground-rooted and systematic analysis of coastal risk reduction and adaptation responses and their drivers at the local and national scale. It could serve as a first basis for framing nation-wide assessments aimed at taking stock of recent progress in coastal risk reduction and adaptation worldwide and help overcome barriers to adaptation.

中文翻译：

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评估毛里求斯岛（印度洋）的沿海减少风险和适应措施应对措施

这项研究评估了自1960年代以来毛里求斯岛海岸带减少风险和适应措施的应对措施的变化。它使用研究文件，访谈，实地观察，图像分析和案例研究，分析了公共和私人利益相关者战略的演变以及所发挥的杠杆作用和障碍。它基于60个海滩站点，显示了硬保护的普遍性（76.7％），而无响应（8.3％），基于生态系统的响应（3.3％）和综合响应（11.7％）以及全国范围内从硬保护转向以及“一应俱全”的响应方式，以应对软性和针对特定地点的响应。这种转变是由于最初的硬性保护措施的失败而推动的，该措施迫使毛里求斯政府改善海滩管理做法，促进在硬性保护失败的地方撤退，借助外部专业知识和资金来设计明智的降低风险和适应政策，并实施示范项目。因此，“边干边学”过程和增加的外部支持使公共管理的海滩场址在降低风险和适应风险方面取得了进展。相比之下，由于不协调的技术干预措施的泛滥，相关的级联（海滩损失，沿海侵蚀向下漂移的蔓延）和锁定效应，私人管理（即由居民和旅馆公司经营）的海滩场所经常表现出更大的风险。这项研究为在地方和国家范围内对海岸带减少风险和适应措施及其驱动因素进行了扎根和系统的分析提供了指导。