The Forests

There are 6 types of vegetation in Réunion Island : 4 types of tropical forests, high-altitude heathlands and humid shrubbery. These formations are host to hundreds of species specific to Indian Ocean islands, among which there are 160 vegetal species.

Natural environments are the key players in the island’s natural balance.
- They are cyclone-resistant
- They protect hills from erosion
- They make water ressources durable

Together with Madagascar and neighbouring Indian Ocean islands, Réunion Island is part of the 25 areas of the world where preservation is a priority due to its outstanding biodiversity.

Far away from any other competitive natural environment, tropical islands’ natural environments stand as the most vulnerable in the world. In Réunion Island, there are 50 endangered vegetal species. Fires, clearings, taking of species and urban development lead to the extinction of many species and the disappearance of natural environments.
Foreign species, both vegetal and animal, have invaded the different natural environments and contribute to the environmental imbalance. Dans les îles, des animaux et des plantes introduits par l'homme envahissent les milieux naturels et pertubent gravement leur équilibre

Keep the environmental balance of Réunion Island !

Take your waste back home even if it is biodegradable. Waste attracts rats which are the main predators of baby birds. Moreover, stones and seeds can be at the origin of the invasion of undesirable species.

Don’t light open barbeques so as to avoid fires

Follow the indicated trails to avoid an environmental imbalance.

Don’t bring any plant or animal into Réunion Island !

Don’t pick anything !
Enjoy being in the wild but don’t pick any plant or take any animal.

Picking, hunting and fishing are under control.

The Lagoon

The lagoon and its coral reef is host to thousands of species, which makes it one of the richest and most complex lagoons of the world. Le lagon et la barrière de corail abritent des milliers d'espèces, ce qui en fait un des milieux les plus riches et les plus complexes au monde.

Réunion coral reefs are young and not very wide much spread out but they have a key role - They protect the shore from heaves and erosion
- They are the origin of white sandy beaches and calm water areas known as ‘lagoons’.
- They act as nurseries : numerous fish reproduce and grow up here.

Lagoons are fragile environments and they suffer from human influence.

Many sectors, like agriculture or waste water management can damage the coral and generate the proliferation of competitive species (seagrass, sponges…)

A coral head is made of many polyps. The polyps feed on microscopic plankton which they catch using their tentacles. For many different species, the coral reef constitutes their habitat.

Don’t gather anything !

The presence of life in the reef results from a complex balance between all the species.

Taking specimens (coral, shells, fishes) contributes towards environmental imbalance in a long term.

Even on the beach, don’t gather the coral. Over time, thanks to the ocean’s movements, it will be transformed into white sand.

Don’t throw anything away !

Don’t forget to bring back your waste and cigarette ends!

Don’t break anything !

Corals are living beings and grow slowly. It takes many years for a coral to grow but only a few seconds to destroy it. Les coraux sont vivants et leur croissance est lente.
Il faut des années pour construire un bouquet de corail, il faut quelques secondes pour l'anéantir.

Don’t walk on the coral

(Sources : Département Réunion and IFRECOR Réunion, Initiative Française pour les REcifs CORalliens )