Making sure paradise is not lost: protecting Guadeloupe’s natural treasures
The French reserve of Petite Terre in Guadeloupe in the Caribbean is a tropical paradise. The two uninhabited islands are dwelling to around a third of the world’s population of the Lesser Antillean Iguana. But the reserve’s wealthy biodiversity is significantly at hazard from tourism and weather alter. A European Project is trying to guard the islands by monitoring the effects of these threats.
“Last year, we carried out a maritime environment survey, which determined an Elkhorn coral colony. This 12 months, the experts resolved to carry out a longer and a lot more specific study of this colony in get to keep track of its evolution in phrases of exposure to tourism and the potential impacts of local weather improve,” points out scientific officer Léa Sebesi.
The venture has a price range of just more than 50 percent a million euros. All over 70 per cent of that arrives from the European Cohesion Coverage. The reserve is made up of 842 hectares of sea and 148 hectares of land.
165 chicken species
Anthony Levesque, an ornithologist, has been studying the reserve for the past 23 yrs. He suggests he is discovered a decrease in hen quantities, specifically between specified species. It really is a development he is identified to reverse.
“It really is not all undesirable news,” he claims, including: “The good thing is, we’ve got the case in point of the Minimum Terns. Not only have we been equipped to maximize, or at the very least stabilise, the selection of pairs that settle down every single yr to breed, but earlier mentioned all, many thanks to the installation of platforms, we have dozens and dozens of chicks that fledge each individual yr, and that by yourself is definitely great.”
Strictly defending normal habitats.
Receiving to Petite Terre is only feasible by boat and anchoring is strictly prohibited to guard the coral.
The guides that are authorized to give excursions of the reserve ought to also obviously make clear to travellers the fragility of the area ecosystem in the minimal region of Terre de Bas. The other island of Terre de Haut is absolutely off boundaries to the community.
Established in 2002, the Titè Affiliation can help to co-regulate the reserve with the Nationwide Forest workplace (Office National des Fôrets). Alain Saint-Auret is the Head Guard.
“The rules are very strict. People have certainly no right to just take factors – anything at all at all. When an infringement requires spot the law enforcement can wonderful a person up to 1,500 euros. If they refuse to cooperate the penalty can rise to 75,000 euros.”
A great deal is currently being accomplished to secure Petite Terre’s fantastic pure magnificence. Without having concern a paradise, but a fragile a person.
