Mauritius is a small island state whose forestry and horticulture sectors are closely connected to biodiversity conservation, water and soil protection, food production, landscape quality, tourism, and climate resilience. Forest cover is reported at about 47,159 ha, approximately 25% of the country’s land area, but good-quality native forest represents only about 2% of land area (Forestry Service, 2026). The contrast between relatively substantial total forest cover and the limited extent of high-quality native forest illustrates a central management challenge: forest quantity alone does not adequately describe ecological condition. Mauritius also contains exceptionally high plant endemism, while invasive alien species, habitat fragmentation, land-use pressure, cyclones, drought, pests, and climate change continue to affect terrestrial ecosystems (Republic of Mauritius, 2026). This review synthesizes available government and international evidence to examine how forestry and horticulture can be treated as complementary components of a resilient island landscape. It discusses forest resources and ecosystem services; native-forest restoration; invasive-species management; nursery production and propagation of indigenous and endemic plants; horticultural diversification; agroforestry and urban greening; climate-resilient production; and institutional priorities. The paper argues that the strongest opportunities lie not simply in increasing tree numbers, but in improving ecological quality, genetic diversity, site suitability, nursery quality, biosecurity, water efficiency, and connectivity between forests, farms, gardens, and urban spaces. A practical framework is proposed for integrating conservation-oriented forestry with productive horticulture while maintaining Mauritius’s unique biological heritage.
Keywords:Mauritius; forestry; horticulture; native forest restoration; invasive alien species; agroforestry; endemic plants; climate resilience; nurseries; biodiversity