Inspiring the residents of Le Brûlé to value their natural heritage: participatory restoration (Reunion Island)
In Brûlé, a village in the Hauts de Saint-Denis region (Reunion Island), the project “Inspiring the Residents of Brûlé to Preserve Their Natural Heritage” addresses the significant pressure that invasive alien species (IAS) place on the village’s native and endemic habitats. Led by SREPEN — Réunion Nature Environnement — the project brings together families, schoolchildren, organizations, and volunteers around three initiatives: creating an arboretum of endemic and native species at Maison Roger, organizing work camps to combat IIS at Mamode Camp, and raising awareness among the public and in schools.
Co-funded by the European Union (BESTLIFE2030) and the City of Saint-Denis, with support from Réunion National Park, the ONF, and the Mascarin National Botanical Conservatory, the project mobilized more than 440 participants, planted more than 200 endemic and native seedlings, and removed approximately one metric ton of waste from pest control efforts, fostering a sustainable civic movement centered on the biodiversity of Le Brûlé.