Rehabilitation of abandoned coconut plantations at D'Arros Island, Republic of Seychelles

Abandoned coconut plantations occur on tropical islands worldwide. Despite their adverse effect on local biodiversity, there is a paucity of information concerning rehabilitation methods and their respective outcomes. Previous accounts of coconut forest rehabilitation programs exclusively advocate clearcutting followed by planting of native saplings. Having experienced considerable practical and ecological complications from clearcutting on D'Arros Island, Republic of Seychelles, an alternative protocol was developed in which the upper coconut canopy was temporarily preserved so that the resultant shady environment on the forest floor might accelerate natural forest succession. Activities and progress were monitored in three experimental plots and compared to previously clearcut sites. Results suggest that the proposed method allows rehabilitation of abandoned coconut forests to be achieved sooner and at a lesser cost than clearcutting.

► A new method to rehabilitate abandoned coconut forests has been devised and tested. ► Labour and vehicle investments were recorded during rehabilitation. ► Regeneration of the natural forest was rapid and invasive growth was limited. ► Rehabilitation is achieved sooner and at a lesser cost than clearcutting methods.