81 . At the first regional conference on the theme `` Climate change impacts , adaptation and mitigation in the Western Indian Ocean region : solutions to the crisis '' ( Mauritius ) , West Indian Ocean countries were encouraged to initiate mitigation policies , including the development of ocean-based renewable energy ; the rehabilitation of critical coastal habitats and their components , including coastal forest and seagrass habitats and enhancement of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through forests by developing and implementing national and regional blue carbon and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation ( REDD ) -plus programmes and strategies with a transboundary focus , as appropriate .