Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
National Parks
It is estimated that nearly a third of the 25km-long lagoon along the west coast from Bou-
can Canot south to Trois Bassins has already suffered damage from a variety of causes:
sedimentation, agricultural and domestic pollution, cyclones, fishermen and swimmers. To
prevent the situation deteriorating further, a marine park was set up in 1997. In addition to
educating local people on the need to keep the beaches and the water clean, the
Association
Parc Marin Réunion
(parcmarin.chez.com)
has been working with local fishermen and various
water-sports operators to establish protection zones. A fully fledged nature reserve was
created in 2007.
Part of the interior of the island is protected, too. The
Parc National des Hauts de la Réunion
(
www.reunion-parcnational.fr
)
was established in early 2007, resulting in half of Réunion's total
land area being now under protection. There's a tightly regulated core area of 1000 sq km,
including the volcano, the mountain peaks and the areas around Mafate and Grand Bassin,
surrounded by a buffer zone of some 700 sq km to encompass most of the ravines.
UNESCO WORLD
HERITAGE SITE
Réunion's landscapes and natural riches are so unique that in 2010, Unesco designated over 40% of the island a
Natural World Heritage Site under the title 'Pitons, Cirques & Remparts'. This is an exceptional recognition of
the island's phenomenally appealing mountainscapes and its remarkable biodiversity. Other natural sites in the
world that have been awarded such a distinction include the Galapagos islands, the Great Barrier Reef and the
Grand Canyon National Park.
Environmental Issues
The central problem confronting Réunion is how to reconcile environmental preservation
with a fast-growing population in need of additional housing, roads, jobs, electricity, wa-
ter and recreational space.
Despite the establishment of the Parc National des Hauts de la Réunion and the Parc
Marin Réunion, the island is facing major issues, all related to two massive engineering
works. The 'smaller' is the Route des Tamarins, which was completed in 2009. This 34km
expressway that slices across the hills above St-Gilles-les-Bains required numerous
bridges over the ravines. According to local environmentalists, the road cut across the
only remaining savannah habitat on the island.
