Guadeloupe to fell 'exotic' coconut trees to stem coastal erosion

Isabelle Martinetti with RFI

4 January 2025 at 10:14 am·1-min read

Coconut trees on Sainte-Anne beach in Guadeloupe.

France's Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe, famed for its tropical beaches, plans to remove some of its exotic coconut palms to stem coastal erosion and eradicate a tree disease.

At the picture-perfect beach of La Perle, in the north of the French overseas region of Guadeloupe, authorities have a two-year plan to remove some of the palm trees that fringe its turquoise waters – and replace them with native species with roots that will better stem coastal erosion.

"The coconut palm is an exotic species," explained Julien Lorthios, from the French Office of Biodiversity (OFB).

It does not have the same capacity as some endemic species to put down deep roots, as even tall palms have a tiny root system, spreading less than one square metre from the base of the trunk. This means they cannot fix sand in place to stop it being washing away by powerful waves, according to Guadeloupe's department of the environment.

Lorthios recommends, along with other experts, replanting more endemic species in order to slow down coastal erosion – a natural phenomenon which is accelerating with climate change.

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Palm disease

(with newswires)

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Palm disease

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