Société réunionnaise pour l'étude et la protection de la nature

The Société réunionnaise pour l'étude et la protection de la nature (SREPEN) is the principal environmental defence association on Réunion Island, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean. Founded on 16 December 1970 by a group of naturalists and scientists including Thérésien Cadet, Auguste and Christian de Villèle, Yves Gomy, Harry Gruchet and Paul Nougier, it has its headquarters in Sainte-Clotilde, a neighbourhood of Saint-Denis, the island's capital. In March 2013 it adopted the name SREPEN RNE, for Réunion Nature Environnement, to reflect its broader environmental remit. The association works across the department of Réunion and the territories under the authority of the prefect of Réunion, as well as in inland waters, the territorial sea and the adjacent exclusive economic zone. Its mission combines improving knowledge of the natural environment, running field conservation projects, and advocating for environmental protection. It is officially approved under French environmental law (agrément au titre de l'Environnement). Together with the Office national des forêts (ONF) and the Société d'études ornithologiques de La Réunion (SEOR), it co-manages the Réserve naturelle de la Roche écrite. It is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and France Nature Environnement (FNE). SREPEN publishes INFO-NATURE, a scientific outreach journal that has documented Réunion's biodiversity and environmental issues since the early 1970s. The bulletin began in artisanal form, was reissued as a grouped scientific review in November 1971, and evolved through several formats and editorial teams. Its cover emblem changed over time: for many years it featured a dodo perched on a tortoise, but from issue 24 (1998) it adopted the silhouette of the Réunion ibis (Threskiornis solitarius), also known as the Réunion solitaire, an endemic bird that disappeared after human settlement. From issue 25 (2003) the journal modernised with colour covers, and a special 104-page issue in October 2009 was devoted to the Réserve naturelle de la Roche écrite. On the ground, SREPEN organises nature outings, participatory worksites and planting events, and reports measurable impact: more than 55 years of action, 1,000 RUIZIA plants reintroduced, and 9 hectares restored. It is part of a network of some 6,000 associations through France Nature Environnement. Its website is hosted by Infomaniak, a European host using 100% renewable energy and certified carbon compensation, a choice the association presents as consistent with its environmental values.

The Société réunionnaise pour l'étude et la protection de la nature was founded on 16 December 1970 by Thérésien Cadet, Auguste and Christian de Villèle, Yves Gomy, Harry Gruchet and Paul Nougier. It established its headquarters in Sainte-Clotilde, a neighbourhood of Saint-Denis, Réunion. From its earliest years the association combined scientific study of the island's natural environment with public advocacy and outreach. Its bulletin, INFO-NATURE, began with a special first issue announcing the creation of SREPEN, produced by S. de Rauville. Issues 2, 3 and 4 were more artisanal, made by S. de Rauville for issue 2 and by P. Nougier for issues 3 and 4. On 1 November 1971 SREPEN reissued these first four fascicles as a grouped scientific review in a 15 x 23 format, a format that lasted until issue 10. Issues 5 to 9 were produced by Paul Nougier and Yves Gomy, and issue 10 by Yves Gomy. In 1973 a special issue on forests, prepared by Paul Nougier and Yves Gomy, was subject to a legal injunction (référé) induced by the local ONF at the time; it therefore appeared with all articles concerning forest management in metropolitan France removed. This episode divided the SREPEN bureau and led to several resignations. After Yves Gomy returned to metropolitan France on 19 August 1973, the review's format changed to 14 x 21, and Harry Gruchet, curator of the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle de Saint-Denis and secretary of SREPEN, became publication director until issue 23. From issue 1 to issue 23 the cover vignette of INFO-NATURE showed a dodo (Dronte de Maurice) perched on a tortoise; this emblem symbolised SREPEN, including in its advertising, though it lacked scientific accuracy. Issue 24 (1998), still in the same format, was directed by Janick Gilles and the vignette was changed, because the famous dodo was native only to Mauritius. Remains of an endemic bird of Réunion that disappeared after human arrival in 1665 had been found at Saint-Paul and behind the Ermitage beach; they belong to a species of Threskiornithidae, Threskiornis solitarius, the Réunion ibis or Réunion solitaire. The silhouette of this bird was chosen, and the search for authenticity also applied to the drawing of the tortoise. From issue 25 (2003), INFO-NATURE modernised considerably, adopting a 21 x 29.5 format with colour covers (issues 25 to 31), driven by Christelle Payet and then Gisèle Tarnus as publication directors and Ester Lobet as editor-in-chief. A special 104-page hors-série in October 2009 introduced colour photographs within the text and was devoted to the Réserve naturelle de la Roche écrite; Gisèle Tarnus was publication director and Catherine Panot editor-in-chief, with a print run of 400 copies. Issue 32 (2010) kept the same format and director but saw the creation of an editorial committee led by Bernadette Ardon. From issue 33 (2011) to issue 39 (2017), under Bernadette Ardon as publication director, INFO-NATURE changed format again to 16.5 x 24.5, closer to its original format but benefiting from advances in computing and printing. The journal serves as a database on biodiversity and environmental questions on Réunion Island. In March 2013 the association took the name SREPEN RNE, for Réunion Nature Environnement. It continues to operate across Réunion and adjacent maritime zones, co-manages the Réserve naturelle de la Roche écrite with the ONF and SEOR, and is a member of IUCN, WWF and France Nature Environnement. Its website reports more than 55 years of action, 1,000 RUIZIA plants reintroduced and 9 hectares restored, and it organises nature outings, participatory worksites and planting events.

• 2013

  In March, the association took the name SREPEN RNE, for Réunion Nature Environnement.

• 2011

  From issue 33, INFO-NATURE changed format again to 16.5 x 24.5 under Bernadette Ardon.

• 2010

  Issue 32 saw the creation of an editorial committee led by Bernadette Ardon.

• 2009

  A special 104-page hors-série in October was devoted to the Réserve naturelle de la Roche écrite, with a print run of 400 copies.

• 2003

  From issue 25, INFO-NATURE modernised with a 21 x 29.5 format and colour covers.

• 1998

  Issue 24 of INFO-NATURE changed the cover emblem from the dodo to the Réunion ibis (Threskiornis solitarius).

• 1973

  A special issue on forests was subject to a legal injunction induced by the local ONF, leading to resignations; Yves Gomy returned to metropolitan France on 19 August.

• 1971

  On 1 November, the first four fascicles of the bulletin were reissued as a grouped scientific review.

• 1970

  Founded on 16 December by Thérésien Cadet, Auguste and Christian de Villèle, Yves Gomy, Harry Gruchet and Paul Nougier.

Leading environmental protection association on Réunion Island, combining scientific study, field conservation and public advocacy.

• INFO-NATURE journal

  Scientific outreach journal documenting Réunion's biodiversity and environmental issues, published since the early 1970s.

1. 1SREPEN | Protection de la biodiversité à La Réunionsrepen.re
2. 2Société réunionnaise pour l'étude et la protection de la naturefr.wikipedia.org
3. 3Société réunionnaise pour l'étude et la protection de la naturewikidata.org