Black River Gorges National Park

Introduction

The Black River Gorges National Park is the largest remaining area of good quality native forest in Mauritius. The park covers an area of some 6,574 ha. It is classified as lower montane moist to wet mature forest and is located on the western part of the island’s central plateau inside the Black River Gorges National Park.

The forest developed on ca. 2 million-year-old lava flows. The soil today is deep and dark brown and variable in depth. There is very little exposed bare rock. Solid depth is the main factor determining the canopy height of the forest.

The forest is dense and composed of slow growing hard wood trees. The canopy is interlocking and stratification is very apparent. The uppermost stratum is about 14-16 m tall. Common species there include members of the Sapotaceae family. The middle stratum ranges from 2-12 m tall and includes many members of the Rubiaceae, Flacourticeae and Melastomataceae families. Shrubs form the third stratum. Vines are scanty in terms of species and individuals. The ground flora is sparse and composed of tree seedlings and saplings as well as herbs.

Phelsuma ornata is surprisingly uncommon within the park's boundary.

Conservation

The flora of the park is unique in its very high density of native plants. To date, 215 species have been recorded from the managed area of which 148 are flowering plants, 42 fern and fern allies and 25 are lower plants. Numerous species occurring in the forest are endangered, including Sideroxylon grandiflorum (Tambalacoque), Zanthoxylon heterophylum, Elaeocarpus integrifolius and Weinmannia tinctoria.

Three endemic day geckos, Phelsuma cepediana, Phelsuma rosagularis and Phelsuma ornata, and the forest litter dwelling Macchabé skink, Gongylomorphus fontenayi (Scincidae) are locally common in the park. These animals are likely to have been key ecological components of the forests of pristine Mauritius.

Climate

The climate prevailing over the area is characterized by an ill-defined dry period from mid September to December. The mean annual rainfall is about 2,600mm. Mean temperatures are 23ºC in summer (February) and 17ºC in winter (August).

Related issues

The Mauritius kestrel

Phelsuma species