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Draft:Saint Brandon Conservation Trust

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Saint Brandon Conservation Trust
Formation2017; 7 years ago (2017)
TypeConservation Charitable Trust
Headquarters33 Cybercity, Ebene, 72201 Republic of Mauritius
Area served
Cargados Carajos Shoals
Websitesaintbrandonconservation.org

The Saint Brandon Conservation Trust is an independent Mauritian conservation non-governmental organization working to protect, restore and conserve the historical[1] Cargados Carajos shoals of the Republic of Mauritius (also known as St. Brandon, which have been recommended by the State of Mauritius for application as a UNESCO[2] World Heritage site as well as a Marine Protected Area (2004)[3] and are a vital habitat for endangered marine and terrestrial species facing existential threats from shipwrecks,[4] illegal fishing and pollution.[5]

History

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The Trust was incorporated under the laws of Mauritius in 2017 for the advancement and protection of Flora and Fauna and, in 2021, it was renamed the 'Saint Brandon Conservation Trust' to focus exclusively on this Mauritian atoll nationally and internationally.

On 8 May 2024, the Saint Brandon Conservation Trust was launched internationally at the Corporate Council on Africa's US - Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas under the theme Saving Africa's Rarest Species[6] showing Mauritius as a model for African ecosystem conservation with the successful protection of the Mauritius Kestrel from extinction,[7] the rehabilitation of three rare reptile species following the Wakashio oil spill in July 2020[8][9] and the unique ecosystem of St. Brandon,[10] being protected by the St. Brandon Conservation Trust.

Activities

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The Trust's aim is to protect and restore the island ecosystem so that Cargados Carajos fauna and flora may be conserved along with the resident fishing community on the Mascarene islands of Ile Raphaël, L'île du Sud and L'Île Coco.


Conservation management, monitoring and research

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  • Developing and executing in March 2024, together with the UNDP IAS Project Team[11] an appropriate protocol for the eradication of rodents from three islands around Raphaël island, as a test case.
  • Establishing, together with the UNDP IAS Project Team and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, a subsequent monitoring program to determine eradication success and identify any reinvasion.
  • Establishing, together with the UNDP IAS Project Team and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, effective biosecurity on the St. Brandon islands to limit future rodent incursions.
  • Establishing, together with the UNDP IAS Project Team and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, effective quarantine protocols
  • Updating existing quarantine protocols and awareness rules for visitors to minimise the arrival of invasive alien species.
  • Developing a process for monitoring and reporting of invasive alien species.
  • Ensuring enforcement activity through appropriate authorities.[12]
  • Implementing long-term seabird monitoring progressively amongst the shoals and islands.
  • Implementing flora surveys.
  • Managing invasive flora.
  • Redefining sea turtle nesting beaches protection programme.
  • Executing a protection programme to further develop turtle sanctuaries.

References

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  1. ^ "The Cantino Planisphere (1502) Earliest Documented Evidence of the Cargados Carajos Shoals". Saint Brandon Conservation. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Proceedings of the World Heritage Marine Biodiversity Workshop". UNESCO. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Management Plan for St. Brandon" (PDF). St Brandon. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  4. ^ "A Shipwreck's Incalculable Toll on a Remote Reef". Hakai Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  5. ^ Degnarain, Nishan. "Black Reef Risk: How Sunken Metal Shipwrecks Attract Coral Destroying Invasive Species". Forbes. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Saving Africa's Rarest Species at the Corporate Council on Africa". U.S. - Africa Business Summit. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ^ Carl G. Jones (2022). The Mauritius Kestrel, The Story of the National Bird. p. 1,2. The great rarity of the kestrel was noted by Mauritian naturalists Jean Vinson and France Staub
  8. ^ Degnarain, Nishan (2 October 2020). "The Battle To Save The World's Rarest Species From Extinction Following Mauritius Oil Spill". Forbes. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Jean Boulle Group Conservation - Mauritian Skinks: Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust". www.youtube.com/. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ "The protection of the marine birds and sea turtles of St Brandon's Rock, Indian Ocean, requires the conservation of the entire atoll as an ecosystem" (PDF). www.diva-portal.org. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ^ "PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES FOR EXPEDITION TO ST BRANDON The IAS Project Team is expecting to carry out an expedition to St Brandon Island to undertake IAS control-led ecosystem restoration in Saint Brandon from 4 March to 14 March 2024". procurement-notices.undp.org. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  12. ^ "National Coast Guard". police.govmu.org. Retrieved 8 June 2024. At present NCG [national Coast Guard] has 19 posts round the main island including three outer islands posts at Rodrigues, Agalega and St Brandon. The posts are operating under the supervision of an area commander for the northern, southern, western and eastern command respectively and the personnel attached to these posts perform coast guard as well as police duties
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Video clips

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