Executive Summary

The flora and fauna of Mauritius and Rodrigues and their offshore islets has evolved through millions of years of isolation and adaptation, and is characterised by a high diversity and endemicity that is particularly susceptible to population declines and extinction. Much of the native flora and fauna has disappeared over the past 400 years of human settlement, and many components of the remainder are internationally recognized as threatened and vulnerable. The major threat to biodiversity is the continuing degradation by invasive exotic species and human activities on the 1.6 % of the land that remains as native habitat.

This report outlines a possible Rodrigues Islets Strategy, with a focus on Cocos, Sables, Crab and Gombrani, The prime objective of which is the protection and conservation of the remnant native animal and plant populations that still exist on relatively isolated lagoon and offshore islets.

This planning framework has been developed through consultation at an institutional level and through a stakeholder participatory planning process conducted at three workshops, held in Mauritius in November 2003 and February 2004, and additional meetings with the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Chief Commissioner, heads of relevant sector units and various other stakeholders including boat-operators and MWF (Rodrigues), in Rodrigues. The main focus of these workshops was the development of a strategic plan for the islets of Mauritus. However, much of the output is relevant to Rodrigues at the strategic level.

This is presented here, in the context of Rodrigues, as an introduction to the management plans for Cocos, Sables, Crab and Gombrani. The consultants do not suggest that this document be treated as a Strategic Plan per se, but be used as a framework on which to develop an equivalent plan through further workshops in Rodrigues, with full stakeholder participation.

The strategic framework has three main themes:

The development of a management strategy for protection and enhancement of the existing natural resources;

Encouraging support for conservation efforts through public awareness campaigns, education and the use of some islets to raise awareness of biodiversity and conservation issues through the provision of research, educational and recreational facilities; and

The enforcement of laws that prevent habitat degradation and destruction, littering, poaching and theft of protected plant and animal species

The 4 Islets that are the focus of this report, comprise of two important sea bird breeding and roosting islets: Cocos and Sables, which are already designated Nature Reserves, under the Forestry and Reserves Act, 1983; and two other islets Crab and Gombrani, which present opportunities for restoration and multi-purpose development.

Cocos and Sables are vegetated sand-bar islands on the outer margin of the western lagoon of Rodrigues, whereas Crab is a rocky outcrop close to the coast of Rodrigues, and Gombrani is a coralline islet to the south of the main island.

Following recommendations from the participatory workshops, the individual islets are then classified in terms of their proposed designation. The main purpose of the designation is to make apparent and easily understood the degree of access allowed to the individual islets. This will facilitate understanding by the general public, and enable more effective policing and enforcement. Two designations were agreed upon: Open Reserve and Closed Reserve. This is equivalent to the Strict Nature Reserve and Open Nature Reserve designation recommended by the Islets National Parks Task Force but it was the consensus of the workshops that for the time being, the designation closed and open reserve would lead to less confusion as many of the islets are already designated Nature Reserves under the Forestry and Reserves Act of 1983. When the issue of institutional ownership detailed above has been resolved, the exact terminology used in designation could be revisited.

The Closed Reserves are strictly for the purpose of conservation and protection of native biodiversity and access is restricted to authorized personnel for the purposes of monitoring, enforcement and restoration of native habitat. Open Reserves can be multipurpose with an array of activities allowed, ranging from protection, conservation, research, eco-tourism, education, and public awareness to recreation.

The range of activities has been determined through consideration of each individual islet’s potential in supporting the three major themes of the strategic plan; and their current value in terms of:

- Native species biodiversity;

- Cultural importance;

- Naturalness and habitat fragility; and

- Current use and potential for restoration.

Different parts of a particular islet may have different conservation value and therefore may require different management techniques and interventions. A series of zones are proposed to identify particular areas associated with different conservation values and to assist in management design. These zones should be developed within the islet management plans; based on biotope maps and location of fragile habitats and important native species.

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