Additional request Development of predator-exclusion enclosure for upland forest conservation
Additional request Development of predator-exclusion enclosure for upland forest conservation
Following the ?Super Fence? project, MWF has come a long way in preparing a Field Guide book. The book has been published in 13 copies and MWF would like to share its work and knowledge with schools, children, the general public in Mauritius and interested parties internationally. The aim of the book is to transmit the knowledge to the general public (children and adults alike) in recognizing the endemic Flora and Fauna from the introduced species. MWF is therefore requesting funds to publish the book in more copies and adopt a part of its content to produce a booklet for children.

Objectives of the project proposal:

A:?A Field guide to the common trees & shrubs of upland forest in Mauritius? - Book
To print 2,000 copies of the above mentioned high quality photographic field guide to plants in Mauritius. This book is for non-specialist adults, full of high quality photographs, and simple descriptions. (Please see book example ? A Field Guide to the Common Trees & Shrubs of Upland Forest in Mauritius? included)

B: ?Mauritius The Birds & Plants? - Booklet
To print 2,000 copies based on selected extracts from the above-mentioned Field Guide & adding also the native birds of Mauritius. This booklet is for children, & will contain high quality photographs and simple descriptions. (Please see book-let example included ?Socotra the birds and plants?)

Benefits to the Community:
This book will be an important resource and education tool for schools, children, the Mauritian public in general and international tourists. 200 copies of each book will be given away interalia to public libraries, schools with active environment clubs, environmental NGOS, ministries in the public sector working with conservation and the environment.
In addition, MWF has illustrated PowerPoint talks about native plants & birds that can be given to interested recipients of the books. MWF can also organise training sessions for those who wish to learn how to use the keys in the book and how to identify plants.


Project Activities:
Printing the field guide and booklet, distributing the latters and providing talks and field visits to people involved in environmental projects.
 
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Project Snapshot

Grantee:
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (Mauritius Branch)
Country:
Mauritius
Area Of Work:
Biodiversity
Grant Amount:
US$ 12,471.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 4,527.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
MAR/04/02
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
To test the effectiveness of a New Zealand predator-proof fence under Mauritian conditions. Secondary objectives: a) To set up an upland nursery and field genebank for the propagation and protection of Critically Endangered Mauritian endemic plants. b) To raise awareness about CMAs and biodiversity conservation, including this project?s exclusion-fence trials and advocating integrated use of intensive and extensive management for native forest reserve management. Were these objectives met? Primary objective: The trial predator-proof fence has been built successfully. Testing the fence for effectiveness has begun, but trials are ongoing, as per the availability of target animal species. The weather resistance of the fence will be evaluated beyond the project end date with regards to rust and cyclone impact. The application of a fence to conservation in Mauritius has also been considered, as its success depends not only on the physical barrier, but on its maintenance and on ecosystem management within the fenced area. Secondary Objectives: a) The upland field genebank nursery and mist bench were established, the species for priority action were chosen, the locations of all known individuals in the wild has been recorded using GPS and with detailed maps, and a protocol for setting up the field genebank has been laid out. All known wild individuals of four of the priority species (Hubertia ambavilla var ambavilla, Hibiscus boryanus & Psiadia cateractae, Chassalia boryana) are now represented in the nursery, and individuals of a further ten species have been successfully propagated. The location of the field genebank was changed from being within the predator proof fencing to a one-hectare fenced plot (using basic fencing as per a Conservation Management Area). The fencing and preparation of this site is being funded by the Conservation Fund (administered by NPCS). This area will contain the field genebank (for MWF) and a planting area for natives from upland forest (for NPCS). Site preparation will begin at the end of 2004. In anticipation of the site, several species have already been planted into the fenced area. All are doing very well. A very important aspect of this project has been the intensive prospection work carried out to locate new individuals of the rare species. Through this project, new individuals have been found for 16 species, and several species have been removed from the priority list as they are now ?too common? (i.e. more than 50 individuals are now known in the wild). (Table 1)
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SGP Country office contact

Mrs. Pamela Bapoo-Dundoo
Phone:
(230) 213 53 84
Fax:
(230) 212 14 11
Email:

Address

2nd Floor, Sugar Industry Pension Fund Building, 1 Remy Ollier Street
Port Louis, Mauritius

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