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Conservation
Our Work
The Foundation is commited to conserve, restore and protect the endemic flora and fauna within the Garden. Our work consists of In-situ conservation and Ex-situ conservation.
In-situ conservation
In-situ conservation (or habitat restoration) involves control of invasive plant and animal species. Weeding and cutting down of exotic plants are being carried out to control invasive plant species. Spot weeding around individuals of critically endangered plant species is being done to maximize seed collection for ex-situ species recovery.
Ex-situ conservation
A nursery has been set up for the propagation of critically endangered species and other endemic plants which will be used for restoration work. Seeds collection for propagation of plant is the most common method used. However, for many rare endemic species seeds are not readily available and techniques such as grafting and tissue culture should be used for propagation. Currently, the Foundation is mainly multiplying endemic/native plants through seeds.
Conservation Management Area
The Vallée d’Osterlog Endemic Garden forms part of the 2% remnant native and endemic forests that remains in Mauritius. The Garden has a rich biodiversity endemism of flora.
Several critically endangered endemic and indigenous plant species are presence in the valley such as the Eugenia bojeri (Bois clou), Pandanus iceryi (Vacoas), Sideroxylon grandiflorum (Tambalacoque), Diospyros boutoniana (Ebene marbré à grosse feuilles) and Olax psittacorum (Bois Perroquet).
Inventory Works
Surveys are being conducted for inventory and evaluation of native species within the Garden. Some of the rarest endemic plants of the Island have been inventoried at the Garden such as the Eugenia bojeri (Bois clou) – eight plants, Pandanus iceryi (Vacoas) – five plants, Sideroxylon grandiflorum (Tambalacoque) – ten plants, Diospyros boutoniana (Ebene marbré à grosse feuilles) – five plants had been inventoried.
The Foundation has published two interim inventories of endemic and indigenous flora:
- Interim Inventory of Native Species within the Endemic Garden.
- Interim Inventory of Native Plants within the Valley.
Rare fauna species such as Hypsipetes olivaceus (Mauritius Bulbul – Merle), Zosteropus mauritianus (Mauritius Grey White Eye), Taphozous mauritianus (Grey tomb bat) had also been inventoried at Osterlog.