Réunion Island is a volcanic tropical island in the Western Indian Ocean, where land and sea governance are closely interconnected. Its Exclusive Economic Zone includes both the island’s terrestrial area and surrounding marine ecosystems, which are under increasing pressure from urban expansion, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
Although large parts of the island are protected through a National Park and marine protected areas, coastal development, pollution, and fragmented governance continue to threaten ecological resilience and long-term sustainability. Managing these challenges requires stronger integration between terrestrial and marine planning systems.
Problem statement
The main governance challenge on Réunion Island is the fragmentation of planning and decision-making across multiple institutions and governance levels. Several strategic planning frameworks exist, such as the SAR, SMVM and DSBM, but they are managed by different authorities and often operate in parallel rather than in coordination. At the same time, urban development, agriculture, and tourism continue to increase pressure on coastal ecosystems. Weak political leadership, limited long-term strategic coherence, and insufficient integration of scientific knowledge into policy reduce the effectiveness of land-sea governance and climate adaptation efforts.
Impact
The case study shows that improving governance on Réunion Island depends on better coordination between institutions, stronger stakeholder participation, and the use of scientific and strategic foresight tools. Existing initiatives such as the Agence Régionale pour la Biodiversité (ARB), participatory platforms like SeaSketch, and scenario planning projects such as ATP Domino demonstrate the potential for more integrated governance. However, participation remains limited, especially for civil society and marginalised groups. The project highlights the need for governance systems that connect environmental protection, social resilience, and economic development more effectively.
Workshops
Workshop 1
Stakeholder insights on existing barriers
Workshop 2
Vulnerability Assessment
Workshop 3
Governance Challenges and Strategic Foresight
