The Grand Cul de Sac Marin is a reservoir of biodiversity. It is home to most of the coral species and 60% of the sea fans in the French West Indies. The surface area of the GCSM's freshwater swamp forest is exceptional in the Caribbean.
Many remarkable species find shelter in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin bay. The bay's many wetlands make it particularly suitable for birdlife.
A threatened Bay
The riches of this bay are subject to various anthropic pressures and threats that endanger the health of the ecosystems and all the life they support.
On the other hand, there are more insidious threats on which it is very difficult to act, such as the consequences of climate change.
The Bay's coastline bears witness to a wide range of human activity during the colonial and post-colonial periods, and the canals of Grande Terre are fine examples of this.
A protected area
In the 80's, in the midst of a debate on the protection of Guadeloupe's natural heritage, the decision was taken to create a Nature Reserve for the marine and coastal part of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin bay in 1987, followed by the creation of a National Park for the Basse Terre forest massif in 1989. The Park's public establishment took over management of the Nature Reserve in 1990. It has developed genuine expertise and legitimacy within this Marine Protected Area, and has gradually spread the message of protection to local stakeholders and the general public. In June 2009, the decree revising the National Park allowed the 6 spatial units of the former Nature Reserve to be integrated under a new status, that of the heart of the park. Except for a few nuances, the regulations that apply remain unchanged. Another innovation on this occasion: the marine cores have been consolidated by a buffer zone entitled "adjacent marine area", which helps to protect the marine cores.
Visit the Grand Cul De Sac Marin with our "Esprit Parc National" partner NICO EXCURSIONS
