3 million years ago, fire erupted from the bowels of the earth. This clash of the elements created an island right in the middle of the Indian Ocean which was soon covered with abundant vegetation and perfectly hospitable. So water and fire did indeed shape each of the mountains which so impress us today. This young land prone to eruptions has become a legacy, a gift from nature to be passed on to future generations. In 2010, UNESCO included the “pitons, cirques and ramparts of Reunion Island” on the prestigious World Heritage list. Let us tell you why!
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A testimony to the history of the island
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The volcanic massifs at the centre of the island bear witness to intense geological activity. When you venture onto the trails in the cirques, you roam over centuries of history caused by eruptions and erosion. The elements shaped the different landscapes on the island and every walk on these winding paths is a reminder of this. We understand how a chance meeting between water, fire and wind gave birth to this oasis teeming with life. In itself, the island is like an encyclopaedia, a collection of stories against a background of natural phenomena.
An abundance of nature
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Piton des Neiges did not just create an island. It created a paradise teeming with fauna and flora and countless endemic species. Between the ramparts of the cirques, there are countless primary forests which are home to species of birds and insects found nowhere else. The spectacle that we witness on the slopes of Piton des Neiges is quite unique. The highest mountain on Reunion Island and in the Indian Ocean watches over its creation ceaselessly with a kindly heart.
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Inhabitants who love their land
The love that the people of Reunion Island and those who live in the Highlands feel for their land and their culture is incomparable. The volcano has given them fertile land to farm and an intense place to live. Each day, they give thanks for its benevolence by protecting this heritage in the best possible way. While the history and biodiversity at the heart of the Reunion Island National Park played a major role in its inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2010, the issue of its preservation was also a compelling argument.
“The last refuge for the survival of a large number of endemic species”
The extraordinary diversity of the natural environment in Reunion Island complies with the declaration of outstanding universal value in the “natural” criteria which states that a property must:
- Contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance
“The combination of volcanism, tectonic landslide events, heavy rainfall and stream erosion have formed a rugged and dramatic landscape of striking beauty.”
- Conservation of biodiversity
“The property is a global centre of plant diversity with a high degree of endemism. It contains the most significant remaining natural habitats for the conservation of the terrestrial biodiversity of the Mascarene Islands, including a range of rare forest types. Given the major and partly irreversible human impacts on the environment in the Mascarene archipelago, the property serves as the last refuge for the survival of a large number of endemic, threatened and endangered species.”
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