MWF is restoring Ile aux Cocos and Ile Sables, two sandbar islets that host tens of thousands of seabirds. Through the project, local staff will be trained in islets restoration and seabird monitoring and MWF will advise on sustainable tourism management. The project was launched in June 2006 and is being implemented through a participatory approach where stake holders are included in the decision process and project implementation.

Sponsored By:
UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme & Barclays Bank

MWF has conducted several restoration projects areas in Rodrigues, including Battue Madame, Trois Soleil, Citron Donis and Montagne Goyave under “Sustainable Use of Rodriguan Endemic Plants Project”; Mourouk, Dans Coco, Caverne Provert under the “Pilot Coastal Restoration Project”; Grande Montagne and Anse Quitor under the “Restoration of Rodriguan Nature Reserves Project”; Papaye, Marechal, Montagne Malgache, Montagne Goyave and Nassola under the “Tree Planting project”. Some of the projects are still on-going or receive regular support from the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation staff.




Sponsored By:
Chester Zoo (North of England Zoological Society)
Francois Leguant (Tortoise Savannah)
Mauritius Oil Refineries

In collaboration with the Forestry Department, a nursery was erected in 1996 at Solitude to produce native plants for the restoration of both Grande Montagne and Anse Quitor Nature Reserves.
The nursery is also used for training of villagers in horticultural techniques to help in native plant production in backyard and village nurseries.
Propagation trials of rare Rodriguan endemic species are conducted at Solitudes. In some cases, mass propagation techniques have been mastered for some species that includes pioneer species. These plants have been successfully used for the restoration of degraded areas on Rodrigues.

Sponsored by:
Chester Zoo (North of England Zoological Society)
Francois Leguant (Tortoise Savannah)
Mauritius Oil Refineries

In accordance with its belief that conservation must occur hand-in-hand with education in order to be successful, MWF maintains one full-time environmental educator. The Rodrigues Environmental Education Programme (REEP) targets both primary school children and local communities. Students in Standards V and VI receive bi-monthly lessons in environmental issues including: Rodriguan endemic flora and fauna, water cycle and pollution, and plant cycle and conservation. Field outings to the nursery, Nature Reserves, water sources and treatment plants are included in REEP’s syllabus. In communities, MWF’s Environment Educator organizes workshops, clean-up days, and question-and-answer sessions. MWF also works with other stakeholders—government and NGO, to coordinate island-wide awareness-raising projects.

Sponsored By:
Air Mauritius
Philadelphia Zoo

Last update: 05 May 2008