English presentation
La Reunion is of international interest for Biodiversity and is moreover classified as one of the 25 of spots of the world land Biodiversity (Myers & UICN, 1994).
The semi-xerophilous forests form part of the most remarkable habitats of the island. Completely disappeared in other places of the Mascareignes, their relics are estimated at less than 1% of their original area (56 000 ha) in La Reunion (Strasberg et al., 2005). These last relics, subject to high natural and human threats are only present today in degraded form and located in inaccessible areas (Gullies and Cliffs). The massif de La Montagne with approximately 255 ha of more or less substandard semi-xeropilous habitats constitutes one of the ultimate evidences of this type of vegetation in La Reunion.
Faced with this concern, the National Park of the Reunion Island and its partners, the Coastal environment, the Regional department for the environment, the Regional Council and the General Council set up the LIFE+ COREXERUN project.
COREXERUN means “Conservation, restoration and reconstitution of semi-xerophilous forest on the Reunion Island.
This project is the first program in the french overseas departments to receive a LIFE+ funding from the European Commission.
With a view to assuring the ecological viability of the semi-xerophilous habitats of La Reunion, the program foresees to restore 30 ha and to reconstitute artificially with its functions 9 ha of this unique forest.
Experts and passionate find themselves periodically to develop an accurate conservation strategy which will contribute to reach the LIFE+ COREXERUN’s goals in the scope of 2013 and beyond.
The program in figures
Starting date : January 2009
Ending date : December 2013
Number of hectares of restoration : 30 (10 plots)
Number of hectares of reconstitution : 9 (1 plot)
Number of persons working full time on the project : 3
Number of partner organizations : 5