Ecological Conservation

• Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Île aux Aigrettes, Mauritius Several hundred years as a Dutch, French, and then English colony took a toll on the ecology of Île aux Aigrettes, one of 49 islets that are part of the island nation of Mauritius. Hunting, logging, and the introduction of non-indigenous species either exterminated or forced to the brink of extinction many of the island's native plants and animals, including the dodo and two giant tortoise species. But over the past two decades the island has been transformed into a ground-breaking bio-regeneration project. In 1985, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation began an extensive rehabilitation of the island's devastated ecosystem through a careful weeding program that eradicated 28 non-endemic species of flora and fauna and reintroduced native ones. Today the island acts as an incubator, outdoor laboratory, preservation site, and visitors' center showcasing the rare ecology of Mauritius. Île aux Aigrettes has "shown the world that ecosystem rehabilitation and protection of endemic species is possible," juror Ronald Sanabria says. The island's success is not just a triumph for Mauritius, it also provides a road map for regeneration projects worldwide. www.mauritian-wildlife.org