Réunion National Park (French: Parc national de La Réunion) is a national park in France located on the island of Réunion, which is a part of France in the western Indian Ocean. The park was created on March 5, 2007, to protect the unique plants and animals found in Les Hauts, the mountainous center of Réunion. It covers about 42% of the island. Some animals found only in this area include the Réunion cuckooshrike and the Reunion Island day gecko.

Plans to create the park began in 1985. In 2004, local communities on Réunion voted to support the park’s creation. It officially started in 2007. The park’s volcanic land, including the Piton de la Fournaise, an active volcano, was named a World Heritage Site in 2010. It was called "Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island" because of its dramatic landscape and rich variety of life. The park’s goals include protecting nature, sharing knowledge, welcoming visitors, and working with local communities. It is a popular place for hiking and climbing.

Some disagreements have happened about development in the park, especially using geothermal energy. In 2016, the Regional Council of Réunion planned to change the park’s status to a regional nature park to make it easier to develop tourism. This plan was opposed by park officials and some politicians.

History

Proposals to create a park were first discussed in 1985. The Réunion Environmental Charter and the Regional Development Plan officially decided that a park should be created in Les Hauts, the mountainous area of the island. The French Ministry of the Environment was asked for its opinion about creating a national park.

From 2000 to 2003, a process to gather opinions was started. The government, the region, the local government, and the group of mayors agreed on a plan and formed a guidance group. Twenty-seven out of twenty-nine groups supported the plan to create a national park. On March 29, 2003, the French Prime Minister signed a document that approved the project.

Discussions and talks about the park’s boundaries and goals continued. Between August and September 2004, the plan was shared with the public in a survey organized by the local government in the 24 towns on the island. The towns supported the project and added some suggestions.

The park officially became real on March 5, 2007, after a decision was made following advice from the Council of State. In April 2007, the Administration Council began its work. From 2007 to 2009, workers were hired, and buildings were set up at the park. In 2008, efforts began to create the park’s official rules.

On August 1, 2010, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the natural areas in Réunion National Park and added "Pitons, cirques and remparts of Réunion Island" to its list of World Heritage sites.

Mission

The national park's charter outlines four main goals. First, it aims to protect the variety of landscapes and help them change over time. Second, it seeks to stop the loss of different plant and animal species. Third, it works to protect and support the traditions and values of the highlands, ensuring they are passed on to future generations. Fourth, it helps the highlands grow economically by creating opportunities for people living there.

Geography

Réunion National Park's core area covers 1,053.84 km² (406.89 sq mi) in the island's interior. This area makes up 42% of the island's total land and includes parts of 23 communes. Some of this land is used for farming and living. Near the core is a buffer zone, called an area of voluntary commitment, covering 876.96 km² (338.60 sq mi). This zone touches all 24 communes on the island. Together, the park covers more than 75% of the island. Réunion Island was formed by volcanic activity and lies above a hotspot, a place where magma rises from deep underground. Two volcanoes shape the island: Piton des Neiges, which is over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) tall, and Piton de la Fournaise, an active volcano. The park includes four major areas recognized as a World Heritage site:

• The Mare Longue forest in Saint-Philippe, which contains some of the best-preserved low-altitude tropical forests known as Forêt de bois de couleurs des Bas;
• The Cirque de Cilaos, featuring Pain de Sucre and La chapelle rock formations in the Bras Rouge River's narrow gorge, as well as a magma chamber that is 100,000 years old and accessible;
• The Cirque de Salazie, home to Piton d'Anchaing, a 1,356 m (4,449 ft) high mountain;
• La Grande Chaloupe, located between Saint-Denis and La Possession, which is one of the last remaining examples of a semi-evergreen forest that once covered much of the island's western region.

Wildlife

Réunion shares a similar natural history with the other Mascarene Islands, Mauritius and Rodrigues. All three islands had no people living there before the 1600s. When humans arrived, many native species disappeared, and non-native animals, like giant land snails in Réunion, harmed the environment. Less than 25% of Réunion is believed to have original plant life, mostly found in high areas. The forests of Réunion and the other two islands are grouped as the "Mascarene forests" ecoregion by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which considers this area endangered. Conservation International lists Réunion as part of the "Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands" biodiversity hotspot, a place where protecting nature is especially important. About 830 non-native plant species have grown naturally on Réunion, and 50 of these are harmful to local plants and habitats.

Réunion’s isolation and variety of environments and climates helped many unique plant species develop. Of the 850 known native plant species, 230 are found nowhere else in the world, and half of those are at risk of disappearing. These plants live at different heights on the island. The island’s rough landscape also helped many bird species become separate species, such as Barau’s petrel, the Réunion harrier, the Réunion cuckooshrike, and the Réunion grey white-eye. Genetic differences also exist within these bird species. In total, 18 bird species live on Réunion, and half are unique to the island. At least 22 bird species have gone extinct since humans arrived. Introduced cats and rats are major threats to birds. Among mammals, the Mauritian flying fox returned to Réunion after becoming extinct there. Notable butterfly species include Papilio phorbanta and Salamis augustina, and the Reunion Island day gecko is a unique reptile found only on the island.

Gallery

• Bridal Veil Falls in Salazie
• Panoramic view from Nez de Boeuf
• A trail leading to the Roche Écrite summit
• The Piton des Neiges mountain
• Cirque de Mafate, including îlet La Nouvelle
• Cirque de Salazie
• Plaine des Sables
• Lava flow from Piton de la Fournaise
• Forest of Acacia heterophylla
• Cirque de Mafate

Tourism

The national park is one of Réunion's most important attractions. Its mountains are a place where many people go hiking and climbing. There are over 900 km (560 mi) of clearly marked trails that pass through different areas, such as rain forests, sugar cane fields, and volcanic land. These trails include three long-distance paths approved by the French Hiking Federation, with mountain lodges located along the way. More than 400,000 people visit the Piton de la Fournaise volcano each year. A special trail has been created there to help visitors learn about the volcano.

The park's visitor center, called Maison du parc at La Plaine-des-Palmistes, was opened on August 21, 2014, by French President François Hollande.

Management

The park is managed by an administrative council (Conseil d'administration, CA) made up of 88 members, most of whom are local representatives. These members are elected to serve for 6-year terms. During the first term of the administrative council, a 15-member executive committee (Bureau) was created to act on its behalf.

A scientific council (Conseil scientifique, CS) with 18 members from different fields and 11 outside experts provides advice to the administrative council and the park's director. Additionally, an economic, social, and cultural council (Conseil économique, social et culturel, CESC) includes public figures and representatives from local institutions and associations.

The park's rules, especially those about the core area, are written in its charter.

Controversies

Since the national park was created, people have debated how it should be managed and how this affects the people living in the upland areas. These people live in small villages called îlets and have criticized the park's management for not respecting their history and traditions. They also mentioned that farming activities have been banned several times. Park officials said that all activities are allowed if certain conditions are met.

The volcanic area has the potential to produce renewable energy using geothermal power. However, this could conflict with the park's purpose of protecting both the natural and cultural landscape. In 2016, test studies were conducted for two 5 MW geothermal power plants. One was planned near the Piton des Neiges, and the other near the Plaine des Sables, where a similar project had been considered before and later stopped. Both sites are located in the aire d'adhésion, which is outside the park's core area, but some proposals have also suggested building plants within the World Heritage site boundary.

In February 2016, the conservative majority in the Regional Council of Réunion, led by president Didier Robert, announced plans to change the national park into a regional nature park. They said the park's strict rules were limiting tourism growth. A regional nature park operates through agreements and cannot create its own rules. Park officials and some politicians opposed the plan, arguing it would harm the island's biodiversity, the World Heritage status, and access to government funding. This would be the first time a national park in France was downgraded. In September 2016, the national park's director, Marylène Hoarau, resigned after pressure from Ségolène Royal, head of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development, and Energy. This caused the park's president, Daniel Gonthier, to believe there was political interference. Hoarau had criticized Robert for proposing plans about the park's future. In an interview, Robert denied being involved in Hoarau's resignation and criticized the minister for her decision.