Every year, the loss of animal and plant species costs the world around 6% of its Gross National Product, according to ?The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity?, a study published for the International day of biological diversity. Mauritius is one of the most threatened countries in the world in terms of biodiversity loss, but it?s not too late to reverse this trend. On condition that we realise that biodiversity is about far more than saving some obscure species from extinction.

The National Biodiversity Strategic and Action Plan avers: «Habitat loss is identified as the major historical cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss, through initial deforestation and the latter conversion to wide scale and intensive agricultural use. The landscape has been altered significantly with only small and fragmented areas of primary and secondary habitat remaining. These remaining areas are now under severe pressure from invasive alien species.» The document also points out that "24 of the native 52 native species of forest vertebrates that were known to have occurred in Mauritius and adjacent islets are now extinct". For some reason, it was deemed that only the dodo deserved to be remembered.

The huge majority of the country?s forests were razed at a time when people weren?t aware of the environmental, economic and social effects of biodiversity depletion. Few, if any, understood the ramifications of wiping a species off the face of the Earth. It all began, of course, with the demand for ebony (Diospyros tesseleraria), which drove the axe-wielding Dutch further and further inland in search of the precious wood. They chopped down anything that stood in their way. Paradoxically, the Diospyros tesseleraria survives to this day, while many species that were not coveted by the colonists have disappeared forever. Later, the sugar industry finished off the job in its quest for arable land.

Fortunately, the country is a lot more informed on the need to protect its flora and fauna. And that?s what made the former government?s plan to go ahead with the South-East highway so objectionable. It was a wilful aggression against one of our last primeval forests in the name of the basest form of "development", namely to ensure a speedy transfer of tourists from the airport to the hotels on the East coast. Ferney Valley was saved because a small group of people united against the highway project. They were aided by an extremely fortunate political conjuncture.

Protecting this country?s biodiversity shouldn?t be the preserve of a militant few simply because far more than conservation issues are at stake. As Ahmed Djoghlaf, the executive secretary of the Convention on biological biodiversity, noted in his speech for the International day of biological diversity: «The protection of the world?s biodiversity is essential to the world?s food supply. If current extinction rates continue, it will be hard to provide sufficient food for a global population that is expected to reach nine billion by mid-century.»

It?s not all doom and gloom though, far from it. The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has been wildly successful in saving several bird species from the cusp of extinction. There were only four known kestrels in 1974. They now number 800. In 1987, the Echo Parakeet had the dubious distinction of being «the rarest parrot in the world». Not anymore. There are now 270 of them. The NGO accomplished this with limited means.

What can you do? To begin with, you could try to get to know this country?s natural heritage a bit better. It?s an activity that whole families can engage in by visiting the country?s parks and reserves. Mauritius possesses one national park, seven nature reserves, two reserves and 16 protected islets. The recent creation of the Osterlog Valley Foundation is a wonderful initiative that can be credited, in large part, to the ministry of Agro-industry. This green streak should be encouraged.

By getting to know the flora and fauna that call this country home, each and everyone can help to ensure that they are protected. Not a bad deal, wouldn?t you say?