Ebony Forest

Ebony Forest Reserve Chamarel or just the "Ebony Forest" is a registered Non-Profit organisation, registration number: NSIF/2024/0016 conserving Mauritian endemic species with a rehabilitated indigenous forest (including rare semi-dry forest types), situated in Chamarel, in the south-west of Mauritius.

View of Ebony forest Chamarel from the south-west

Establishment

Canopy walkway at Ebony forest Chamarel

It was established in June 2017, after 10 years of work in restoring the forests and planting 130,000 endemic plants. In addition to the reintroduced endemic species, the reserve is home to some of the few remaining stands of original mature endemic Ebony forest. Till present more than 154,000 plants have been planted and 34 ha have been weeded from invasive plant species.

Wildlife

Birds

The birds commonly found here are the Mauritius paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone bourbonnensis), the Echo parakeet (Psittacula eques echo), the Pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri), the Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus), the Mauritius bulbul (Hypsipetes olivaceus), the Olive white-eye (Zosterops chloronothos). and the Grey white-eye (Zosterops mauritianus).

Bats

The Mauritius flying fox, Mauritian tomb bat and the Natal free-tailed bat can be found here.

Flora

The plants that can be found here are the Ebony (Diospyros tesselaria), Mauritius coral tree (Chassalia boryana), Bois tambour (Tambourissa) and Screw pines (Pandanus).

Facilities

One of the look-out points at Ebony forest Chamarel

The reserve has canopy walkways and view points, and also runs guided tours or safaris. There is a museum, snack point and educational facilities on the reserve.

It is located next to the "Seven Coloured Earths" site, in the Chamarel area in the south west of the island.