PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Semi-xerophilous (semi-dry) forest is one of the most emblematic habitats of Reunion Island. Today only about 1% of its original area of 56,800 ha remains, scattered in small plots across the western coast (Mafate and Cilaos cirques) and the La Montagne mountain range. The main causes of this regression include heavy demographic pressure, loss of connectivity between relict areas, invasion by exotic species, decline or extinction of native species (respectively the endemic Reunion day gecko and the Giant Tortoise), and the lack of awareness among the local population. Reunion National Park coordinated a previous LIFE project on semi-dry forests (LIFE07 NAT/F/000188 - COREXERUN), which committed the Park and its partner to an ambitious conservation project to save the endangered forests. Results from that project pointed out the need for low-cost restoration of greater areas to guarantee long-term conservation success.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Forêt Sèche project aimed to preserve unique semi-xerophilic forest habitats on Reunion Island and to re-establish the connectivity between restored and relict plots. It would demonstrate that the long-term conservation of this habitat can be achieved at lower cost, with a reduction goal of 20%, by the implementation of innovative measures. To achieve this objective, a set of demonstration actions and innovative approaches would be implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner. These actions would serve to directly and indirectly promote cost-effective and sustainable conservation on a greater area of the semi-dry forest on Reunion Island.
RESULTS
The LIFE+ Forêt Sèche project team successfully conserved unique dry (semi-xerophilic) forest habitats on Reunion Island, and re-established connectivity between restored and relict forest plots.
An area of 45.5 ha of the seriously-endangered dry forest was restored and connected to the 39 ha of dry forest restored within the previous LIFE Corexerun project (LIFE07 NAT/F/000188), leading to a total area of 84.5 ha of restored and connected dry forest plots. The project team collected close to 1,200,000 seeds of 56 dry forest species and from these produced 117,076 seedlings, of which 80,239 were planted on the sites being restored. One million euro has already been secured to carry out maintenance and monitoring actions for the 3 years following this project.
Community engagement was a strength of the project. A total of 3,741 volunteers contributed in growing seeds, clearing project sites and planting trees. 65 voluntary planting sessions were organised. The project team also worked with schools, with 800 students and pupils taking part in the project's restoration activities.
The project team produced a broad range of communication tools, which were widely used and disseminated. They set up 3 arboretums; and a network of tree nursery owners, municipal green space units and other public organisations who are now raising and planting dry forest species, and managing dry forest plots.
Some of project actions had to be cancelled (final conference) or could not be fully implemented (using terrestrial tortoises in dry forest management), due to COVID-19 and other unforeseen reasons beyond the project team’s control. This, however, had no significant detrimental impact on the overall very positive achievements of the project.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman's report (see "Read more" section).
