Preparation of the Nature Circuit
Preparation of the NATURE Circuit, project led by Anthony FINIZOLA as Vegetation and Biodiversity Referent for the Eco-Campus mission
Sublimating commitment no. 3 of the PROTECTOR (Ecological and Environmental Transition Program of the University of Reunion Island) of the Eco-Campus mission, on the greening and biodiversity axis, is the challenge that Fac has taken on. Sciences in Transition!
A major project
The challenge is major: carry out the aesthetic and educational installation of four Reunion themes (Geology, Botany, History and Agriculture) over the 900 meters long of the future NATURE Circuit before Saturday June 20, 2026, the day of its inauguration!
With the support of CVEC Crous funding (Contribution de Vie Etudiante et de Campus), efforts were focused on 3 consecutive Saturdays (from Saturday March 9 to 23, 2024) on theme 1, the geological theme, with 8 people present: Aurélie DE BERNADY DE SIGOYER, Shalini CATAPOULE and Emeline MAYEN, students in L1 Earth Sciences, Louis CADET, student in dual degree Life Sciences and Earth Sciences, Thibaut THIERRY, student in L2 Earth Sciences , Anthony BLUKER, student in L3 Prépa Talents at the UFR Law and Economy, Rachel GUSSET, associate researcher at the GéoSciences Réunion Laboratory and Anthony FINIZOLA, Lecturer at the GéoSciences Réunion Laboratory.
Together, over 3 Saturdays, they were able to move, not mountains…, but all the same, 12 m3 of rocks, or a total of 40 tonnes of red slag and gray basalt gravel, to model the surface constituting the Cactus educational garden. Space-Time, located between wings A and B of building S1, of the UFR Sciences and Technologies. The educational concept of this geological space is the explanation of Reunion Island in 10 rocks. The botanical aspect has not been ruled out, however!
In the center of this mineral space appear islets of greenery (kipukas) as we can observe in the Grand Brûlé, when the lava flows from Piton de la Fournaise isolate the vegetation. But, for more explanations, you will have to wait patiently for the opening to the public of the NATURE Circuit, on Saturday June 20, 2026 at 14:00 p.m.… mark your calendars!!
