Round
Island (Ile Ronde)
Located 22.5
kilometres off the north-east coast of Mauritius, the islet is a closed nature reserve
and the second largest Mauritian island at 219ha with an elevation of 280m
above sea level. Round Island represents one of the longest-running island
restoration projects in the region, having been designated a nature reserve in 1957
and supporting the last remnant of a lowland palm rich community that formerly
covered the dry lowland areas of Mauritius. It is jointly administered by the National
Parks and Conservation Service and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. The Round Island field station and
plant nursery and has been permanently staffed by wardens and conservation
biologists since 2002.
Selected as one of Durrell’s worldwide rewilding sites, the island has been the focus of
a new long-term planning strategy aiming to restore the entire ecosystem and functionality.
Ile aux
Aigrettes
Ile
aux Aigrettes, Mauritius, sits within a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and is also
an established Nature Reserve, hosting a unique lowland coastal forest
assemblage. A wide range of conservation activities are undertaken on Ile aux
Aigrettes, including terrestrial bird and reptile reintroductions, flora restoration,
conservation education and eco-tourism. This work sits within an established
island restoration plan. It is therefore an ideal training site, providing
exposure to a range of conservation work that can then be applied within and
beyond KBAs elsewhere. The field station and facilities are well equipped to
comfortably support 14 staff. The island also has an endemic plant nursery, a
Visitor Centre, bird management aviaries and reptile head-starting facilities.