S ’ évader
Domino effect
Deforestation is accompanied by disastrous effects . “ A tree is home to an entire ecosystem including fauna consisting of bacteria , fungi and animals in its subsoil and underground . Without this , the soil becomes sterile and needs fertiliser ”, explains Pierre Baissac . Jean-Marie Sauzier , one of the founders of the Tiny Forest project , adds : “ When the Dutch first started planting sugar cane , it grew incredibly rapidly because the soil was so rich . Today , our soil is severely depleted ”.
This natural wealth , however eroded by the grip of civilisation , is not doomed : numerous initiatives to restore the island ’ s essence are now successfully underway . One of its greatest defenders is the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation . For almost 40 years , it has been carrying out a mammoth task , saving numerous species from the brink of extinction . These include the kestrel , the population of which has grown from just four birds in the 1970s to around 350 today , and the large green dolphin , which has seen an increase since around 1990 from nine individuals to approximately 550 .
“ The only solution is to restore the forests and limit predators ,” says Dr Tatayah . This philosophy is echoed by the initiators of the Tiny Forest project . Their approach , inspired by the work of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki , aims to recreate the forests of yesteryear in a reduced format . “ The idea is to create bridges of sorts across the island , to encourage flora and fauna that would otherwise have disappeared ”, explains Allain Raffa , a member of the collective . Three years in , the project has already given rise to ten small forests .
A few drops of water , perhaps ... or the beginnings of an ocean ?
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