High-value Tropical Trees in Mauritius

The richness of the forest in Mauritius in rare and high quality wood of the endemic species was of interest to colonizers who exploited the precious heartwood of the ebony trees. The forest cover declines occurred and continued for other land uses. Loss of timber forest along with non-timber forest products such as herbs and medicinal plants have been accelerated.Forest fragmentation has diminished the island's overall biological diversity. Reforestation with high-value tropical timber trees along with native trees is therefore a high priority. With a review of our forest legislation, private forest land owners in collaboration with government agencies can well boost up a reforestation program to restore our forest cover for multiple benefits of the local people. Research is ,therefore, needed to define the attributes of complementary species like Teak in mixed-species forest plantations. This particular species grows fast and put up increment in few years, hence suitable for marketable timber for local consumption.