Poivre
Poivre lies 270 kilometres southwest of Victoria. The atoll comprises three islands: Poivre Island (111 hectares), Ile du Sud (137 hectares) and Florentin (7.4 hectares). Poivre is joined to Ile du Sud by a 750 metre causeway crossing the reef flats, which dries out at low tide. The atoll covers 1,467 hectares of reef flats with no central lagoon. The island was named by Chevalier de la Biolière in honour of Pierre Poivre, intendant of Ile de France and Bourbon.
HistoryLouis Poiret, who arrived in Seychelles around 1804 and was sent almost immediately to Poivre. During his time in Seychelles he took two mistresses by whom he had nine children. All his sons were named Louis and his daughters Marie. He died on Mahé in 1856, aged 70 years., claiming he was the son of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, (who both died on the guillotine during the French Revolution). Although DNA late appeared to prove the prince was killed during the revolution, possessions of Louis Poiret appeared to suggest he did indeed have royal connections. Important crops included vanilla at one time. Copra was also important.
|
ConservationIn 2016, Island Conservation Society initiated monitoring and conservation programmes on Poivre. Some seabirds breed but the only land birds are introduced and the vegetation is dominated by lines of coconuts. The reef flats attract migratory waders including Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Crab Plover and Greater Sandplover. There are two resident heron species, Grey Heron and Striated Heron (the island Florentin bears the Creole name of the Grey Heron). There are significant numbers of nesting hawksbills and some green turtles; while the waters provide foraging habitat for juveniles.
|
Economic ActivitiesIDC has constructed an airstrip and there are plans for a tourism project.
|
|
|
|
|