27 August 2012: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of France has designated its 42nd Wetland of International Importance, a low-lying island in the Mozambique Channel, with a central lagoon enclosed by mangroves, and surrounding waters.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, Île d’Europa, a Nature Reserve and Important Bird Area (IBA), is surrounded by a “fringing reef” interrupted by sandy beaches, and constitutes important breeding and nesting sites for the globally endangered Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas. It also provides habitat for the globally endangered Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idea, Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus and Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna lewini. The site supports a high number of nesting sea birds. Threats to the site include introduced invasive plant and animal species.

France’s designation contributes to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]