The Cylindrocline lorencei reintroduction in Mauritius marks a significant step in conserving this endemic shrub, which had disappeared from the wild in the 1990s due to deforestation and invasive plant species. On July 4, 2024, around 100 plants were reintroduced to their natural habitat. As a result, this event drew international attention, including coverage by the renowned French newspaper Libération.
Reviving Cylindrocline lorencei: A Lost Species Returns
In a crucial effort to bring back Cylindrocline lorencei, experts planted many of these shrubs in Pétrin, within the Black River Gorges National Park. French botanist Jean-Yves Lesouëf, founder of the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest, saved the species by collecting a few seeds stored in Brest’s seed bank. However, these seeds could not germinate naturally, which posed a major challenge
Biotechnology’s Role in the Cylindrocline lorencei Reintroduction in Mauritius
Thankfully, advances in biotechnology allowed the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest, in collaboration with the Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture (INRA) in Ploudaniel, to regenerate the entire plant in 1993. Initially, they propagated the plant through embryo culture, and later, in vitro techniques laid the groundwork for this historic reintroduction. Consequently, the species began to thrive under controlled conditions.
Scaling Up: From Lab to Wild
By 2009, the conservatory partnered with Vegenov, a French applied research center, to expand propagation through large-scale in vitro micro-propagation. The reintroduction site at Pétrin was chosen because it replicates the conditions of the shrub’s original habitat in Plaine-Champagne, ensuring a better chance of survival. Moreover, this strategic choice aims to provide the plants with the optimal environment they need to grow.
Ensuring the Long-Term Survival of Cylindrocline lorencei in Mauritius
Today, these plants from Brest are now part of Mauritius’ conservation zones, with fifty planted in Pétrin. The National Parks and Conservation Service approved the reintroduction protocol, ensuring that Cylindrocline lorencei not only returns to its natural environment but also thrives for the long term. Furthermore, ongoing monitoring will help assess the success of this reintroduction effort.
A Joint Conservation Effort
The successful Cylindrocline lorencei reintroduction in Mauritius is a result of a collaborative effort between the Conservatoire Botanique National de Brest and the National Parks and Conservation Service of Mauritius, funded by the Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd. Ultimately, this project underscores the importance of preserving the island’s unique biodiversity and highlights a crucial victory in conservation.
