Snails may not seem at first sight an extremely exciting topic for the common reader. But by publishing their invaluable Field guide to the non-marine molluscs of the Mascarene islands and the northern dependencies of Mauritius, Owen Griffiths and Vincent Florens have not just given us a sound scientific handbook. They give us the pulse of our unique but endangered natural heritage. And a clear warning of what our fate will be without conservation efforts.

As Vincent Florens put it in his presentation speech last Tuesday at Réduit, “the knowledge acquired on this little known group”, which stems from “125 native land snail species” and overall to “nearly 200 recorded marine molluscs from the island” gives us an idea of our biodiversity. “There are on Mauritius 2.5 times more native snails than native birds, reptiles and mammals put together.” What they reveal of the complexity and situation of our fauna had to be shared with a maximum of people.

Land snails are not only “like a piece of a jigsaw fitting neatly with other pieces” of our natural patrimony. They give us information about what has “joined the Dodo club” of extinct, never to be met again, species. “Of all forms of environmental degradation, extinction can be viewed as the most serious, simply because it is the only one which is irreversible.”

The book tells us that 36% of the endemic species of land snails are already extinct. While it was going to press, other species were discovered to be extinct, thus raising the figure to 44%.

The responsibilty is clearly identified: “Worldwide, human activities in recent times have increased the rate of species extinction to 1000 times above its natural level. This is a major concern, when we realize that our very existence depends on biodiversity.” “Recent times” does not refer to decades, but to recent years!

“Land snails are excellent indicator species. The alarming percentages of extinct and threatened species represent an unambiguous signal of what awaits the other components of our biodiversity unless we react in time.”

So to this threat, “the solution is of course through conservation efforts”. Presently, 95% of our remaining native forests receive no conservation management! They continue to decay… “We will never find the time or the resources to save each of our unique species through intensive care as for the Kestrel or Pink Pigeon. The simplest and least expensive way to save the bulk of our unique biodiversity is to extend the natural areas receiving conservation management.”

As someone has justly remarked, this hardcover guide is very handy and will prove a perfect companion for those who like to explore the natural world with a curious and environmentally sensitive mind. We must not forget that our island has become associated with the “very symbol of extinction”, the “unfortunate Dodo”. Mauritius has another sad record, with “currently the second most threatened biodiversity in the world. For example, the most highly threatened species on this planet is Mauritian : a unique palm of which only one individual remains”.

Published by Bioculture Press, the book can be purchased in bookshops or by contacting the authors: [email protected] (Owen Griffiths) and Vincent Florens ([email protected]).