Life on land - Yellow Flag Guide: French Polynesia

A showcase for biodiversity

While hiking

Land is often privately owned, few trails are maintained or marked.
Choose carefully a certified and insured guide. Info : syndicatdesguides@hotmail.com
Check the weather forecast Ph : 40 44 27 08
Bring back all waste, do not forget to bring a bag
Wash your shoes before and after an excursion
Do not transport plants from one place to another.

Danger new species

Biological invasions cause the loss of biodiversity in the islands. It is strictly prohibited to introduce live specimens of animal and plant species that do not exist in Polynesia, regardless of their origin.
To learn more about the state of the environment in French Polynesia in 2015: www.environnement.pf/l-etat-de-l-environnement-2015 (pdf in french)

Fragile riches

905 different indigenous blooming plants and ferns, of which 530 are endemic to French Polynesia, sometimes to one single island or valley. 2/3 of the endemic plants are threatened of extinction. On the other hand, over 1,700 (including 35 classified harmful) plants have been introduced. Download a flora guide for free at: www.environnement.pf/documents
Land birds include 38 species, of which 5 are migratory. Half of the birds are threatened of extinction, while 28 are endemic to Eastern Polynesia. Sea birds include 28 nesting species. 13 bird species have been introduced. (4 invasive).
Sea birds include 28 nesting species.
Land snails include 525 species, 95% are endemic and 26 have been introduced (1 invasive).
2409 insects, of which 57% are endemic. These numbers are lower than in reality: several dozens, if not hundreds of species have yet to be described.
Non-indigenous land mammals and 12 species (5 invasive) have been introduced by ancient Polynesians, such as the Pacific rat, the pig and the dog.

Protected areas

18 protected areas on land, whose access is subject to the authorization by Managing committees and the DIREN. The Tefaaiti park (Papenoo) in Tahiti and Vaikivi parks in Ua Huka are open to the public. For remote and desert islands or islets, please inquire before your trip.

If you find a bird

Handle it as little as possible (avoid stressing the animal).
Place it in a carton pierced with holes, in a quite and shady place.
Do not feed it.
Call the Polynesian Ornithological Society, SOP Manu, which will pick it up.
”Vini pétrel” : 87 22 27 99

Species protected all year round

167 plants with flowers and ferns,
33 land birds and 5 sea birds.
The arboreal land snails (Partulideae family)

Danger : black rats

There are no black rats on Ua Huka and Rimatara. On these islands many birds that are present nowhere else are still nesting. They wouldn’t survive a black rat invasion.
Refuse suspect packages and used copra bags.
Before disposing of bulky waste (sails, etc.) keep them in quarantine.
Control black rats in the boat’s hold.
When docking – use rats traps.

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