They previously formed part of the original indigenous forests of the area, together with other surviving endemics such as Sideroxylon boutonianum ("Bois de Fer").

Smaller local plants include critically rare ferns, such as Doryopteris pilosa and the aquatic Acrostichum aureum, as well as the orchid Oeoniella.

They are the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Striated heron (Butorides striata) and the Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus).

Most of the original indigenous Mauritian forests of the area and their wildlife were destroyed early on, and were replaced with commercial timber plantations.

Small patches of the original Mauritian biodiversity survived however, and the presence of remnants of critically endangered endemics prompted the establishment of the National Park.

However unlike the more famous Black River Gorges, Bras d'Eau is far quieter and more rarely visited.

It is approximately 497.2 hectares (1,229 acres) in size, and is composed of parts of Bras d'Eau state land, and some surrounding reserves.