Mobilisation of volunteers in Rodrigues

By Anieta Shan Yu

Rodrigues Nature Reserve OfficerMauritian Wildlife Foundation

Séminaire de restitution du projet LIFE+ COREXERUN – 02 au 06 juin 2014

Rodriques Island

History

• In the early 80’s Rodriguans knew nothing about native flora and fauna of Rodrigues

• It was only volunteers coming from the U.K. who came on and off to look for native plants and count the endemic birds and bats;

e:g Wendy strahm wrote the RED DATA BOOK of Rodrigues

• Past researches work in isolation without the population being involved

• This initiative was funded by WWF

The change

• In 1998 when Richard Payendee joined the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) and started working with the foreign volunteers.

• MWF started a new project and vision in Conservation involving the local community (year 1999)

Recruitment of Volunteers

• MWF started a national champagne how to protect the native flora and fauna of Rodrigues ( Grande Montagne, Anse Quitor, Ile aux Cocos)

• Talks was given on radio, in schools, in village communities to invite people to come and help for free as fund was not available to pay salaries.

Negotiations with schools teachers

Visiting Nature Reserve

Talk in School

Nursery visits

Nursery visits

Nursery works

Seed cleaning

Control of invasive species

Maintenance Weeding

Planting activity

Monitoring

Volunteer groups

Lions club, MCB Bank, Barclays Bank, Mauritius Telecom, Emtel, School children, Scouts Groups, Youth Groups Air Mauritius,Jeune Chambre Economique, village communities,Sport clubs, Women Associations….ect

Local Government staff and amateur botanist

Thank You

Hibiscus liliflorius