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Today marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of late Gabriel D’Argent, the doyen of conservation of Mauritius. This extraordinary botanist passed away on 15th February 2019 and has left his footprint in this sector and a legacy that the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and the whole botanical community cherish to this day. Those who have had the privilege to work alongside him will keep a fond memory of his excellent knowledge of plants to the extent that he was often referred to as an ‘encyclopaedia’. His willingness to share this knowledge with his colleagues was also well known.
Born on 17th July 1924 in Union Vale, Gabriel's connection to Mauritius’ unique flora and fauna began early in life as he followed everywhere Mr Brunette, a local forester who taught him all he knew about plants and animals. At the age of 17, he stepped into the footsteps of his mentor to become a forester himself, eventually climbing the ranks of the Forestry Service from Forest Guard to Forest Inspector.
He retired from the Forestry Service in 1984 and almost immediately joined the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) where he was instrumental in supporting the NGO’s work in Mauritius alongside Wendy Strahm (Plant Conservationist, and a co-founder of MWF) to relocate rare plants, create Conservation Management Areas (native patches of forest fenced against deer and pigs and weeded of invasive alien species) in Brise Fer, Mare Longue or Petrin; and improve the management of Nature Reserves (Ile aux Aigrettes, Perrier, Vaughan’s Plot) and private forests (Emile Series, Mondrain). Gabriel has been intensively involved with the restoration of the Mondrain reserve, an area owned by the Medine Sugar Estate, and previously leased to the Royal Society of Arts and Science.
Gabriel has laboured diligently, often alone, to preserve this reserve, which is a jewel in our floral landscape and inextricably linked to himself. He enjoyed cycling and a very good health for this age, riding his bicycle several kms to Mondrain forest four times a week. He also had a very sharp memory for dates, plants and their locations.
Along his love story with the Mondrain forest, Mr D’Argent was intrigued with a Syzygium species (bois de pomme) found in the reserve. Having monitored the four trees the reserve contained for more than 20 years, he was convinced that the trees were different from any other Syzygium species he knew. His convictions will turn out to be true in 2015 when in-depth research will allow scientists to describe this plant as a species new to science, the Syzygium pyneei. In 2016, a plant was named in Gabriel’s honour, the Turraea dargentiana.
Among his numerous contributions to conservation, Gabriel D’Argent is known for having – with Wendy Strahm – taken cuttings from the then last known and dying Dombeya mauritiana. They are thus accredited for saving a species from extinction at the last hour.
Mr D’Argent has co-authored or supported numerous major publications, including the Page and D'Argent (1997) study (a landmark reference for conservationists) and Rouillard and D'Argent (2009) book 'Le Jardin du Réduit'. .
Mr D’Argent was appointed to the prestigious position of 'Research Associate' by the President of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Dr Peter Wyse-Jackson, on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2014, in recognition of his 'valuable collaboration and outstanding contribution to botany and conservation in Mauritius through many years'.
In 2016, Her Excellency Prof Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, then President of the Republic of Mauritius, developed an indigenous plant garden within the State House, which now has around 50 species. The site is aptly named, the ‘Gabriel D’Argent Arboretum’
On this day, and in the context of the 40th anniversary of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, we have a special thought for Gabriel D’Argent, his relatives, friends, colleagues, and all those he infected with the love of nature.
