The creation of a "national nature reserve of the forests of Mayotte" was recorded on Tuesday in the Official Journal.

The objective is to protect nearly 3,000 hectares of primary forests as well as terrestrial fauna, including insectivorous bats and brown lemurs (lemurs).

The reserve of 2,801 hectares precisely extends over 11 of the 17 communes of the department.

Its creation was awaited by the Scientific Council of the Natural Heritage of Mayotte, the forests of this department being under strong pressure due to deforestation and illegal agricultural practices.

Strict measures to protect the reserve

During an ecological defense council in November 2019, Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of 30% of protected areas in France.

This reservation falls within this framework.

Among the measures are in particular the prohibition to introduce or remove any animal or plant species, except special authorization, and the prohibition of mining, quarry or gravel research activities.

All agricultural activity will be prohibited there, including in deforested areas.

Only beekeepers will be authorized, after agreement with the prefect, to have an activity in this perimeter.

Pedestrians, riders and cyclists will be able to walk in the reserve while staying on the planned routes.

Stemming Deforestation in the Tropics

The management of this reserve will be ensured by a structure which has not yet been designated.

It could be an environmental association, as is already the case for the Mbouzi islet reserve, east of Grande Terre.

The management budget is already defined: 450,000 euros, which will finance in particular the posts of supervisory officers.

In 2019, the equivalent of a primary forest football field was destroyed every six seconds in the tropics, or 38,000 km², according to satellite data.

Preliminary data suggests destruction may have been even faster in 2020.

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  • Biodiversity

  • Planet

  • Agriculture

  • Animals

  • Environment

  • Deforestation

  • Mayotte

  • Forest