Biodiversité et projet de gestion de la réserve naturelle de la Caravelle (Martinique)

Abstract

After a brief historical review and a physical description of the La Caravelle Natural Reserve (Martinique), we present 13 recognized ecological units. These units are dependent on edaphic, climatic and anthropic factors. The 422 ha of the La Caravelle Reserve shelter 179 phanerogamic species and over 100 macrofauna species, distributed unequally over the ecological units. Some of the indigenous and introduced species are very rare in the Martinique and some of them are only found at La Caravelle in secondary vegetation and relictual spots of climactic formations. Human activities and, to a lesser extent, natural disasters such as hurricanes, have had a major impact on the vegetation in most of the ecological units. Although changing, it still has not reached the climactic stage. On request of the authorities that manage La Caravelle, we present proposals for restauring climactic vegetal formations needed by the original fauna of the reserve, including such birds as the white-breasted thrasher Çorge biancht .Ramphoc inclus brachyurus and the Carouge (Martinique oriole) : Icterus bonana, which is the last one endemic of Martinica. These proposals also recommend maintaining environments that are favorable for rare vegetal species living in the secondary formations. The goal is to maintain the highest degree of biodiversity possible. as the white-breasted thrasher Çorge biancht .Ramphoc inclus brachyurus and the Carouge (Martinique oriole) : Icterus bonana, which is the last one endemic of Martinica. These proposals also recommend maintaining environments that are favorable for rare vegetal species living in the secondary formations. The goal is to maintain the highest degree of biodiversity possible.