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RE002
Grand Bénard - Tapcal
Location Réunion (to France), Saint-Louis,Saint-Paul
Central coordinates 55o 25.00' East  21o 7.00' South
IBA criteria A1, A2, A4ii
Area 1,500 ha
Altitude 950 - 2,896m
Year of IBA assessment 2001





Ornithological information See Box and Table 2 for key species. The site supports important colonies of two seabird species, including Pterodroma baraui (2–3 colonies), for which only one other breeding area (RE001) is known. All of the forest-living endemic birds of La Réunion occur except Coracina newtoni. In 1997, 1–3 pairs of Circus maillardi were present.

Site description The site comprises the peaks, cliffs and ridges radiating from Le Grand Bénard (2,896 m), including parts of the rims of the Cirque de Cilaos and the Cirque de Mafate, together with the western part of the Cirque de Cilaos (Le Tapcal). The spectacular terrain results from erosion of the volcanic Piton des Neiges massif. The summits and ridge-tops are almost devoid of vegetation, but the slopes and ledges support montane shrubland or bushland and thicket characteristic of high altitudes. Le Tapcal is covered with a fine stand of mixed montane forest, although exotics dominate in a few small areas.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Barau's Petrel Pterodroma baraui breeding  -  1,000-1,500 breeding pairs  -  A1, A4ii  Endangered 
Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri breeding  -  300 breeding pairs  -  A4ii  Least Concern 
Mascarene Swiftlet Collocalia francica resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A1, A2  Near Threatened 
Mascarene Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone bourbonnensis resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Olivaceous Bulbul Hypsipetes borbonicus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Mascarene Grey White-eye Zosterops borbonicus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Reunion Olive White-eye Zosterops olivaceus resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 
Reunion Stonechat Saxicola tectes resident  1998  present [units unknown]  -  A2  Least Concern 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Massif du Piton des Neiges Biotope Protection Order 1,818 protected area overlaps with site 318  

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
nature conservation and research -
tourism/recreation -
other -
Notes: Collection of chicks, especially seabirds.
not utilised -

Other biodiversity Endemic plant communities: forest, shrubland and bushland and thicket rich in endemic plants.

Management considerations Part of the site, along with Le Piton des Neiges (IBA RE001), has been classified under an Arrêté de Protection de Biotope since January 2001, which will regulate intrusive activities. The inaccessibility of the site offers natural protection from people, but the increase in mountaineering and helicopter excursions threatens colonies of Pterodroma baraui. However, poaching of seabird chicks and other birds still occurs, and Rattus rattus, feral cats and feral goats threaten native wildlife.

References Anon (1998), Barré (1988), Bretagnolle and Attié (1991), Cadet (1980), Cheke (1987b), Le Corre et al. (1996), Jouanin (1963, 1987), Probst and Le Corre (1996), Probst et al.(2000).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Grand Bénard - Tapcal. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 21/05/2013

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