Perrier Nature Reserve


Perrier Nature Reserve is a small nature reserve protecting indigenous plants and primary forest, in the central highlands of Mauritius. It is still closed to the public.

Indigenous vegetation

This CMA nature reserve protects a rare patch of Mauritian primary forest, and a selection of extremely rare endemic plants, such as Diospyros revaughanii, Noronhia macrophylla, Syzygium commersonii, Tambourissa peltata, Croton vaughanii, Erythrospermum monticulum, Chionanthus boutoni and the rare and ornate Trochetia blackburniana, among many others.
The vegetation type is "Mauritius Wet Forest" with Sideroxylon dominant, and it has been used as a source of original seed, for rehabilitating surrounding areas. The forest canopy is low and composed mainly of "Manglier rouge" and "Manglier vert". A very diverse under-storey of species include Aphloia theiformis, Ocotea laevigata and Pandanus eydouxia among others.

History and management

It was designated in 1951, but intensive management of the alien invasive species was only begun in 1969, led chiefly by Conservator of Forests Abdool Wahab Owadally. It incorporates only 1.75 ha, and is located in the central highlands of Mauritius, just north of Mare aux Vacoas.
It is managed by the Mauritian Forestry Service. It is an extremely sensitive site, and is not yet open to the public.