EARTHDAY- 2014
ILLOT COMMUNITY CENTRE
PRESENTATION ON CONSERVATION &
PLANT CARE AND MAINTENANCE
By: D. RAMJEEAWON
NPCS
29 April 2014
National Parks and
Conservation Service
(NPCS)
The National Parks and Conservation
Service (NPCS) was established on 9
May 1994 under Section 8 of the Wildlife
and National Parks Act 1993
NPCS
a
remarkable breakthrough in
terms of protection and
sustainable management
terrestrial biodiversity resources
Mission statement of NPCS

To ensure a sustainable management
and restoration of native terrestrial
Mauritian fauna and flora so as to retain
its genetic biodiversity for the future
generations through in-situ and ex-situ
conservation strategies, ecosystem
restoration, public awareness,
promotion of ecotourism and
implementation of international
biodiversity agreements.”
Objectives
Native flora conservation through in situ
and ex situ management
 Native fauna conservation through
breeding and release programmes
 Wetlands management
 Public sensitisation through several
activities

Objectives (Contd)
Management of the Black River Gorges
National Park
 Promotion of ecotourism through
creation of ecotourism sites
 Restoration and management of
offshore islets
 Control of Alien Invasive Species
 Management Authority for CITES
permits

Basic facts on native flowering
plants of Mauritius
685 species recorded
 311 species endemic to Mauritius
 150 species endemic to Mascarenes
 70 species are believed to be extinct
 141 species are considered to be
critically endangered
 200 species of ferns and orchids

Native Plant Propagation Centre
NPPC has been set up in 1996 as an
important ex-situ facility for the
safeguard of our native plants
 NPPC is intensively involved in the
propagation of threatened native
plant species, seed banking,
education, public awareness and
research.




an ex-situ facility for the conservation of
native flora of Mauritius
The centre has successfully propagated
about 300 species of native plants
Infrastructural Facilities:
a greenhouse
one shade house
one fernery unit
a seed bank Laboratory
Ammenities at NPPC
Critically endangered species






Trochetia boutoniana (National flower)
Psiadia canescens
Psidia cataractae
Nesocodon mauritianus
Dombeya populnea
Ramosmania rodriguesiana
Nursery propagates plants for:
– Ex situ conservation- arborertum as field
genebank
– Reintroduction in the wild most specifically
in managed areas(CMAs).
– Reintroduction in offshore islets (e.g.
Round Island restoration, Flat Island and
Gabriel Isld.)
– Sale to the general public.
– Creation of endemic gardens in schools
and colleges
Propagation

Propagation of threatened plants is
carried out both sexually by seeds and
vegetatively by cuttings mainly, grafting,
layering, spores and bulbils using
specific techniques.
Methods of
propagation
STEM CUTTINGS
Timing and Selection of cuttings
 early morning is the best time to take
cuttings
 should be able to bend diameter should
be of a pencil sized
 include 2 or 3 buds on each cutting
 On hollow stems, cut just below the
node on the bottom and just above the
node on top

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)
Place cutting in water immediately after
taking cutting
 be sure to remember which is the top of
the cutting
 cut bottom at an angle
 cut top straight across

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)
Preparing Container & Rooting media
 containers must have holes in the
bottom for drainage
 medium should be sterile
 mix medium before wilting to assure
uniform mixture

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)
Making the cuttings
 make as many 3 or 4 inch cuttings as
possible from each shoot
 cut bottom at an angle
 allows more surface area to contact
rooting media for water absorption

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)

Treating and Inserting Cutting
Rooting hormone- Seradix or Dynaroot
 Chemicals which help cuttings grow
more quickly and grow a larger number
of roots
 rooting hormones may contain fungicide

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)
place cutting in medium no more than 2
inches deep
 Do not press media around cutting,
water to settle around it

STEM CUTTINGS (Contd)
 Enclose
containers in clear
plastic
 place out or direct sunlight
 keep temp down
CARE & CULTURAL OPERATIONS
WATERING
 WEEDING
 FERTILISATION
 CONTROL OF PESTS & DISEASES
 PRUNNING

Awareness and Community
Integration
Restoration Work- Outer Islets
Contact Details
National Parks and Conservation
Service- Reduit Head Office
 Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food
Security
 Tel No: +230 464 2993; Fax No: +230
464 4053
 E-mail: npcs@mail.gov.mu

Contact Details
Mr. D. Ramjeeawon
 Native Plant Propagation Centre
 National Parks and Conservation
Service
 Robinson Road, Curepipe
 Tel No: +230 670 4108/ 57650333
 E-mail: ramjeeawundip@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION
©Tamar Ron