GREEN SKILLS FOR A GLOBAL CHANGE

EUROPEAN COMENUS PROJECT 2013-2015

REUNION ISLAND

INDIAN OCEAN

Reunion Island

An oversea island
Runion is one of the overseas departments
of France, also one of the 27 regions of France
with the same status as those situated on the
European mainland.
Runion is an outermost region of the
European Union and, as such is part of the
Eurozone.

A French Island
Runion (French: La Runion ; previously le
Bourbon) is a French island with a population
of 839,500. Located in the Indian Ocean, in
the east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres
(120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest
island.

Climate
The climate in Runion is tropical, but
temperature moderates with elevation. The
weather is cool and dry from May to
November, and hot and rainy from November
to April. Precipitation levels vary greatly within
the island, the East is much wetter than the
West. There is more than 6m of rain a year on
some parts of the East and less than 1m a year
on the West coast.

A multi-ethnic society

One people, many origins

Reunion: more than pictures

Economy
Sugar was traditionally the main agricultural
product. Tourism is now an important source
of income. In 2007, the GDP of Runion was
18.7 billion US dollars at market exchange
rates. The GDP per capita was 23,501 US
dollars in 2007 (at market exchange rates, not
at PPP), the highest in Africa.

Single crop farming

A fragile eco system in a small territory

worth to be protected

The national Park

The Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island
coincides with the core zone of La Runion National Park. It
covers more than 100,000 ha or 40 % of La Runion. An
island of two adjoining volcanic massifs located in the
south-west of the Indian Ocean. Dominated by two
towering volcanic peaks, massive walls and three cliffrimmed cirques, the property includes a great variety of
rugged terrain and impressive escarpments, forested
gorges and basins creating a striking landscape. It is the
natural habitat for a wide diversity of plants, presenting a
high level of endemism. There are subtropical rainforests,
cloud forests and heath creating a remarkable and visually
appealing mosaic of ecosystems and landscape features.

A Natural Marine Reserve

Sustainable development, governance and insularity : the case of La Runion Natural

Marine Reserve

Marine protected areas (NPAs) make an essential contribution to the protection of global
ecosystems and the socio-economic development of the population, particularly so in an
island environment. The constant presence of the marine environment, the importance of
quality and the urgent need to limit damage caused by demographic growth means that
conservation projects on marine biodiversity are fundamental issues for the sustainable
development of the island. On Reunion Island, the Marine Nature Reserve particularly offers
a good example : how does it reconcile governance and sustainable development ? The first
step is to identify the different stakeholders in decisions who have authority over this
territory, which is a recent territorial development and of a regulatory nature. Several
different administrative powers are exercised in the area. Analysis of the different levels of
administrative powers reveals a complex pattern of powers and stakeholders, which makes
the governance of this NPA, with its multiple layers of institutional decision-making,
particularly complicated and even confusing. Some recommendations propose a way of
measuring the efficiency of institutional governance in order to promote sustainable
development.

To preserve biodiversity with a density rarely seen elsewhere,

local authorities have set up a Marine Nature Reserve and
an Upland National Park that makes 42% of the islands
area a sanctuary; they have also submitted an application
for inscription of these protected areas on the UNESCO
World Heritage List.
GERRI project is designed as the natural continuation of this
enterprise: its aim is to make Reunion Island the first
territory in the world where all environmental innovations
in terms of transport, energy production, storage and use,
town planning and construction are integrated into society
by 2030. The islands format is perfectly suited to a rapid,
large-scale development of experiments in all such fields.
High concentration of innovative practices in a limited area
is expected to bring about changes in society that will result
in energy excellence and daily behavior emulation more
quickly than anywhere else.

Poverty, fragility, inequity

From
decolonization
to living on credit

From
slums to
supermarkets

Social and environmental

emergency situation

Reunion Island, a marvelous place to live.

An incredible and a unique ethnic mix living peacefully
together. An example to the world.
Numerous sustainable actions already done and to be
carried on.