Etang de Saint-Paul

Vue d’ensemble du site
Vue du canal Matoutia
Vue du canal Gaby

Etang de Saint-Paul

  • Country: 
    France (outre-mer)
  • Site number: 
    2398
  • Area: 
    485 ha
  • Designation date: 
    15-07-2019
  • Coordinates: 
    20°59'S 55°17'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

The Site covers 485 hectares in the western part of the island of Réunion. It lies in an alluvial plain, and saltwater intrusions from underground sources mix with fresh water, creating brackish waters in parts of the Site. This creates a diversity of habitats, which positively influences the biodiversity of the Site and of the Mascarene Archipelago as a whole. The Site particularly helps to support species that need salt and fresh water for their life cycle. 16 plant and 11 animal species found in Etang de Saint-Paul, including three birds, six fish, one crustacean and one insect, are categorized as threatened in the Mascarene Islands. The wetland is also a major habitat for various waterbirds, such as striated heron and common moorhen. Because of its proximity to the densely populated city of Saint-Paul, the Site is threatened by human activities such as the gathering of natural resources and unsustainable water uses. A management plan is implemented to preserve its hydrological and ecological characteristics against these threats.

Administrative region: 
Commune de Saint-Paul, Territoire de la Côte Ouest, Département de La Réunion

  • National legal designation: 
    • Réserve Naturelle Nationale - Réserve Naturelle Nationale de l’Étang de Saint-Paul
  • Last publication date: 
    20-08-2019

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Additional reports and documents