Our Programs » Tropical Restoration

Kestrel Valley is a private nature reserve of 200 hectares in the South East of Mauritius. In a pocket of remaining Mauritian forest, native fauna and flora continue to exist here. The team at Kestrel Valley have embarked on an ambitious mission to restore the forest and coastal habitats for the unique wildlife of Mauritius not just to exist, but to thrive.

Mauritius is a paradise because it is so biologically unique, forming part of the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot. This is due to the island’s high level of endemism, meaning that many of its plants and animals can only be found there. This exceptional endemism comes as a result of the island’s location, age, isolation and varied landscape, leading to remarkable percentages of endemic species: 39% of plants, 80% of non-marine birds, 80% of reptiles, and 40% of bat species reported as endemic. Forests support 691 species of indigenous flowering plants, 52 native species of vertebrates and 30 species of land birds. Another major ecosystem for Mauritius is the marine environment, comprising 16,840 km2 of territorial sea and 1,700 species, including 786 species of fish, 17 species of marine mammals, and 2 species of marine turtles.

This unique paradise of biodiversity is at risk. The main reason for this this is habitat loss and degradation. This is why our conservation team is now working with partners in Mauritius to address conservation challenges. This will be done through establishing new and contribute to existing conservation projects on the island to support ongoing research efforts.