How is an island different from a continent? This question was asked at a key moment in the development of a project. The answers were very varied and familiar: the distance from the mainland, sometimes the ultra-periphery; being surrounded by the sea; the micro-society that is created... But on the island of La Réunion, we realised a cruel answer related to the past of slavery: you can’t run far away. An island is also a closed place for animal and especially plant species. This explains the high rate of endemicity found there. Today this island is a tourist destination where many people want to go. The island’s paradigm shift is another sign of the success of social and environmental change and the improvement of the quality of life of the inhabitants of La Réunion.