Environmental assessment, protection of fauna and flora, integration of the environment into development projects, restoration of natural and architectural heritage, mobilization of staff on the environment, opening to the public : without taking your eyes off the horizon of the sea, sa vocation, the port of Réunion is now interested in everything that lives at its feet.
“Respect for the environment takes a very important place in the life of ports” notes Priscille Labarrère, Environment and Development Manager of Port Réunion. Fourth port in France with six million tonnes of goods processed in 2021, the port of Pointe des Galets is no exception to the rule. It is even quite advanced on the subject as evidenced by the internal brochure of the Development and Sustainable Development Plan (PA2D, equivalent of CSR) to be published soon. This is the latest document from employees of the Grand Port Maritime De La Réunion (GPMDLR) summarizing its environmental action in connection with the social and economic. The port employs 270 people and the groups of employees behind PA2D thus demonstrate their support for the environmental approach.. It is within the framework of the 2014-2018 strategic project that Port Réunion began to embark on this path from 2016. The port manager has carried out an environmental assessment of its strategic project in order to have precise figures on the terrestrial and marine biodiversity for which it is responsible.. This assessment led it to define a Natural Heritage Master Plan (SDPN) concretizing, in addition to knowledge objectives, a requirement to protect natural environments which has since resulted in the implementation of a multitude of actions.
Port Reunion, responsible port
Taking into account the industrial space concerned (70 hectares, to which is added the corresponding marine environment), the environmental problem of the port is undoubtedly the one which, in the meeting, involves the most actors today. There are many partners : scientific community (Research Institute for Development, University of Reunion), associative environment (Globice, Seor, Srepen, Nature OI…), local communities with which Port Réunion is in contact. This is because the environmental challenge is equal to the challenge of the economic heart of Reunion Island., while the port area regularly needs new developments to modernize. This is why the current Strategic Project 2019-2023 accentuates this environmental commitment.. For exemple, in addition to mandatory impact studies, all new planned development projects integrate, in their very design, an environmental and responsible aspect : as an example, the extension of the Eastern Port, the reconstruction of post 1, repair of lighting, the restoration of the Engineers’ Houses, the construction of the new head office in Port Réunion… “Thanks to the SDPN carried out, the impacts of the project on the environment are anticipated, which makes it possible to meet the Avoid rule, Reduce, Compensate for (ERC) » specifies Priscille Labarrère.
An expanded species inventory
Sea creatures and birds, including the two most emblematic species, the Barau petrel and the shearwater do not limit their comings and goings to the borders of the port (without forgetting the invasive species coming by boat like the now famous Colonial Agama). Also it is a much larger area, going from the Rivière des Galets to La Chaloupe, which was studied by the GPMDLR to take into account ecological corridors, in order to establish a diagnosis of the fauna, flora and natural habitats present. On earth (216 species of plants have been identified) and underwater in the area of the first 50 meters of depth, where “we discovered astonishing things that we were far from imagining” notes Priscille Labarrère : 78 species of corals, 183 species of fish, 84 species of macro-invertebrates, a new species of crinoid discovered… The port manager now has a detailed map of the natural environments within its perimeter. “So much knowledge which will help to better take this heritage into account in the port development policy. » But this ecological inventory acquired, the need to evaluate the impact of port activity in greater depth was felt. This is the subject of the thesis of a doctoral student in marine biology, Ludovic Hoarau : it is currently exploring the seabed of the shores of the port up to 150 m deep (mesophotic zones).
Architectural heritage highlighted
The new head office of the Grand Port Maritime de La Réunion, whose construction will begin in 2023, will take place on the site of the Maisons des Ingénieurs. Dating from the end of the 19th century, these are registered as historical heritage. They will themselves be restored identically. One of the villas will house the emblematic meeting rooms which are an integral part of the new GPMDLR headquarters.. Two others should welcome restaurants with the idea of promoting southern fishing products. Finally, the fourth villa will host a Port Center, information place to discover the sea and its professions and will complete the redevelopment. Around each of the Engineers’ Houses, the restoration of very degraded gardens has begun, in a circular restoration approach (without external inputs). It is already mobilizing the internal team for the maintenance of green spaces at the Grand Port.. The requalification of this urban space will also promote access to the belvedere bordering the West Port turning circle.. This is a first response to Port Réunion’s desire to develop its close relationships with the territory and its inhabitants.. In the same spirit, but adapting to the context of the Eastern port, Port Réunion plans, on the occasion of its extension into the rear port area (ZAP), the development of viewpoints allowing local residents and visitors to enjoy the spectacle of port activity.
