EU OVERSEAS REGIONS OF GLOBAL With the kind support of: 7IMPORTANCE Indian Did you Indian Ocean Ocean know? Mayotte is surrounded by a double coral reef barrier - a very rare phenomenon – sheltering Îles Eparses one of the world’s largest lagoons. - Grande The Indian Ocean is home to geologically Glorieuse and biologically extremely diverse Réunion Island hosts a UNESCO world islands belonging to four European heritage site covering about 40% of the © Stéphanie Légeron Overseas entities: the two French island’s surface. overseas departments, Mayotte and Europa – a coral island of the French Îles Réunion Island, the French Îles Éparses Eparses (Scattered Islands) - is one of the (Scattered Islands) and the British Indian world’s most important nesting grounds for Ocean Territory (BIOT). the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas): 8,000 to 15,000 females lay their eggs on the island The steep volcanic terrain of Réunion each year. Island hosts a rich altitudinal plant biodiversity that is relatively well The waters of the British Indian Ocean preserved compared to neighbouring Territory (BIOT) are home to the currently largest no-take marine reserve and the islands. Mayotte has a remarkable biggest atoll on Earth, 25% of the Indian diversity of twenty two known marine Ocean’s coral reefs and 6 times more fish mammals and one of the world’s than any other reef system in the region. most dense tropical island floras. The ecosystems of the uninhabited and Réunion Island is one of the most advanced remote islands Îles Eparses and BIOT regions in terms of energy efficiency: In 2008, Réunion launched a project to be entirely are in near pristine condition and a energy self-sufficient by 2030. British Indian good representation of what healthy Ocean Territory ecosystems may look like when little – Swarm of impacted by human activities. Dispersed blue-yellow around Madagascar, the Îles Eparses fusiliers in the (Glorioso, Juan de Novo, Europa, Territories reefs of Chagos Tromelin and Bassas da India), host a variety of ecosystems from one island © Jon Slayer, Redfern Natural British Indian Ocean to another. The islands’ large fringing Territory (BIOT) reefs are home to a great variety of coral species and form stepping stones Scattered Islands of biodiversity, particularly between Madagascar and the east African coast. Mayotte Main threats to the biodiversity in the Reunion Island Indian Ocean region include invasive species, climate change impacts, illegal and legal fishing, pollution and soil erosion. Îles Eparses – Red-footed booby at Tromelin Island © Matthieu Le Corre Mayotte Marine Nature Park – Fight against British Indian Ocean Territory - Pristine Coral Reefs © Rohan Holt, Redfern Natural History poaching Réunion Island – Caldera Cirque de Mafate © Aurélie Bocquet Mayotte - Marine nature park ©Agnes Poiret, AAMP © Paul Giannasi, AAMP.