Elsevier

Acta Oecologica

Volume 72, April 2016, Pages 1-8
Acta Oecologica

Original article
Iles Eparses (SW Indian Ocean) as reference ecosystems for environmental research

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2015.12.012Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Iles Eparses (IE) are terrestrial and marine sanctuaries for tropical biodiversity.

  • IE are reference ecosystems for basic and applied environmental research.

  • A research consortium was dedicated to IE with 18 cross-disciplinary programs.

  • The starting point of an IE′ biodiversity and climate change observatory is set.

Abstract

TAAF ensures since 2007 the management of 5 small tropical islands lying in the southwestern Indian Ocean: the Iles Eparses. These islands share an exceptional natural heritage including many marine and terrestrial endemic species. At a regional scale the Iles Eparses are some of the most pristine ecosystems, largely preserved from anthropogenic impacts due to their geographical isolation and a historically very limited human occupation. In this context, TAAF wished that Iles Eparses become unique natural laboratories for earth scientists and environmental process observation – like climate change impacts - but also sustainable biodiversity sanctuaries for which the scientific community should provide baseline ecological data to inform on appropriate conservation tools. An inter-agency research consortium emerged in 2009 to meet this commitment for the Iles Eparses. This program was intended to set a science framework in accordance with France' objectives for Research and Conservation. It enabled between 2009 and 2014 the implementation of 18 cross-disciplinary research projects ranging from geology to ecology and represented by the variety of the proposed articles in this special issue. Altogether research projects have dramatically increased knowledge on the Iles Eparses' ecosystems and have provided the first overview of their diversity, their functions and their dynamics and its determinants. In particular applied research efforts have supplied a significant amount of ecological evidence that is now available to develop optimal conservation strategy to ensure the Iles Eparses' long-term biodiversity value. These findings point out that the continuation of research activity in the Iles Eparses should be considered a priority.

Section snippets

Iles Eparses overview

The Iles Eparses are a collection of French overseas island territories in the Western Indian Ocean managed by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, TAAF, Box. 1) since February 2007 (fifth district of TAAF along with Kerguelen, Crozet, Saint Paul and Amsterdam, and the Terre Adélie). They are composed of the following islands: Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorieuses archipelago (Grande Glorieuse, Roches Vertes and Ile du Lys) in the

Biodiversity sanctuaries

The Iles Eparses are among the last sanctuaries of marine and terrestrial tropical biodiversity in the South Western Indian Ocean. Geographic isolation and historically very limited human occupation have largely preserved these territories. Despite the introduction of some exotic species they are home to a remarkable native flora and fauna (including many endemic species) and well-preserved complex ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. Each island supports high levels of species

Anthropogenic pressures and threats

Although Iles Eparses natural ecosystems have been little altered over the past centuries, they are now facing numerous threats. These threats, resulting from climatic phenomena or from past and present human activities, are commonly encountered with varying intensities in tropical islands. In the Iles Eparses, the level of pressure exerted on the ecosystems highly varies from an island to another depending on the history (past human occupation), geographical location and accessibility as well

Conciliating biodiversity conservation and sustainable development

With an exceptional biodiversity and a preserved environment, the Iles Eparses represent a unique opportunity for the French government to fulfill its national and international commitments in terms of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. TAAF also play a key role in the national strategy aiming at the constitution of a regional network of protected areas. Relying on their experience in the Iles Australes (since 1955), TAAF are currently elaborating a sustainable management

Reference ecosystems for global research

The international scientific community considers the geographical location and the conservation status of the Iles Eparses provide a unique support for the development of cross-disciplinary research (Obura et al., 2012). Beyond the development of research in the tropics, the addition of the Iles Eparses as research sites promotes, within a single French public authority (TAAF), the setting up of large scale studies along a latitudinal gradient that extends from 11°S (Glorieuses) to 66°S (Terre

What future for the Iles Eparses?

TAAF strategy for sustainable development of the Iles Eparses, which is still being built, must integrate all stakes at play: a complex regional context, an increasing pressure on the resources and the ambitions of the French government for these islands. The future of the Iles Eparses is thus following a clear pathway whose main objective is to prevent biodiversity erosion with the development of conservation tools adapted to the specific context of each island and the development of

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