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๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐
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๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง
On August 10, 17 enthusiastic members of Friends of Mauritian Wildlife dove into action in the Mondrain Reserve situated in Henrietta. Guided by Lensley Etiennette (Friends Coordinator) and Giani Abajee (Flora Conservation Biologist), this dedicated team embarked on a weeding mission to help conservation move forward.
Mondrain Reserve, a hidden gem of Mauritius, boasts some of the island's rarest plant species, including the ๐ป๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ - rediscovered in this very forest in 1668 after being presumed extinct for over a century - and the ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐, described as a new species in 2000. The participants were also captivated by the remarkable Oeceoclades maculata, a native ground orchid known for its unique resemblance to dried leaves scattered on the forest floor. One of the Friends, Friend John Davy – an orchid specialist and member of the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of Mauritius - gave few explanations about this species and others as well.
However, invasive species like acacia, goyave de Chine, and privet pose serious threats, competing with native and endemic plants for resources.
The volunteers tackled these invaders with hoes, axes, and tree poppers, thus enhancing the reserve's health and providing a more hospitable environment for endemic species. Their hard work didn’t end there, they also converted the removed plants into mulch. Using cutters, they reduced the invasives to small pieces. These will be put around newly planted endemic and native seedlings, creating a protective layer that retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, cools plant roots, and enriches the soil.
After their intense weeding efforts, the team enjoyed a special guided tour by Giani Abajee. They were thrilled to see the vibrant Hibiscus genevii in bloom, along with the striking yellow Senecio lamarckianus and other rare species like Zantheroxylum heterophyllum, Polyscias gracilis, and Barleria observatrix.
