Gabriel D’Argent endemic plant garden inaugurated

An endemic garden, the Gabriel D’Argent Endemic Plant Garden, with a collection of 49 plant species of Mauritius classified as vulnerable, rare and critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, was inaugurated on Monday on the Grounds of the State House in Réduit. A tree planting ceremony marked the event.

In her address, the President of the Republic, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, said that the objective is to enable people who cannot access conservation management areas to see samples of endemic and indigenous plants of Mauritius. “This is being done to promote a better understanding and appreciation of endemic plants. Conservation can be a hollow concept if people are unable to see the plant and understand where it comes from and also in what state it has been preserved as well as its rarity status and potential.”

President Gurib-Fakim pointed out that the State House’s Grounds accommodate an arboretum on the plants of Mauritius and of Rodrigues, and eventually an arboretum on the plants of Agalega will be set up. The aim is to make of the Grounds a true Garden of the Republic, she said.

For his part, the Minister of Agro-industry, Mahen Seeruttun, stressed the importance to preserve the natural heritage of Mauritius. At the level of the Ministry, he said, measures are taken not only to embellish Mauritius but also to increase the area of our indigenous forest in the next coming five years by at least 12%.