TAONABA DOMAINE NATURE

Taonaba, which means "marsh and flooded forest" in the Caribbean language, is an ecotourism site dedicated to the enhancement of wetlands. Located in Les Abymes, it highlights mangrove swamps, swamp forests, marshes and wet meadows. The Taonaba site's rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, with several hundred species listed, has led to its classification as a World Biosphere Reserve and its inclusion on the list of Wetlands of International Importance since 1993. The Belle-Plaine swamp forest, the largest in Guadeloupe, covers 290 hectares of coastal wetlands and 72 hectares of agricultural meadows, protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral. The Pont à Popo and the Canal de Belle-Plaine are also part of this area. A 1.5-kilometre discovery trail allows you to explore these environments. The last 400 meters of this hike, which crosses a wetland area, are duckboarded to protect the fragile ecosystem. The museum center is built around the Maison de la Mangrove and its digital museography, the Mare and a forest walking trail.

With this project, the town of Les Abymes wishes to offer the archipelago a unique tool in the Caribbean: a scientific, museographic and educational space dedicated to coastal wetlands. The aim is to raise awareness of these ecosystems, reinforce their protection and raise public awareness of the need to preserve local biodiversity.