The Republic of Mauritius Project Plan - RarePlanet

Over the millions of years that followed, plants and animals
reached the island from Madagascar, Africa, India and Asia
by the wind and by the sea. These plants and animals
adapted to this new land and became completely different
from species found elsewhere in the world.
The island of Mauritius is surrounded by 49 offshore islets
that vary in size from 253 m² to 253 hectares. Whilst some
are far out at sea and difficult to access, others are found
inside the lagoon and are easily accessible to the casual
visitor. The islands vary in geological formation, some being
of calcareous origin while others are of pure volcanic source
and others a combination of both. The flora and fauna of
the islets have evolved through millions of years of isolation
and adaptation and are characterized by a high diversity and
a high endemicity (species unique to Mauritius) that is
particularly vulnerable to decline and extinction. Thus, some
of these islets are being viewed as a sanctuary of
biodiversity importance and their protection is of extreme
value.
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Figure 3: Location of Offshore islets in Mauritius
(The Islets National Park Strategic Plan 2004)
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