<p>Mauritius, a vibrant island biodiversity hotspot in the Indian Ocean, is at a critical juncture where rapid anthropogenic development is significantly eroding its vital ecosystem services. Historically, the island’s natural landscape, once dominated by extensive native forests, has undergone profound land transformations since the colonial era. Initial clearing for sugarcane plantations, followed by repurposing for urban expansion and conversion of remaining agricultural land to scrubland, has demonstrably diminished the island’s ecological resilience. This study quantifies the tangible impact of these human-driven land use changes, revealing an annual decline in ecosystem service value of USD 4.2 million, plummeting from an aggregated USD 135.5 million in 1994 to USD 131.3 million in 2024. This reduction is primarily attributed to a corresponding decrease in critical agricultural and forestland extents, driven by the expansion of the built environment. While marginal increases were observed in the ecosystem service values of scrubland and water bodies, they are insufficient to offset the substantial losses. The quantification of Mauritius’ natural capital through this ecosystem service valuation serves as a crucial baseline. It offers a robust framework to track and monitor the island’s development pathway and its inherent impacts on natural assets within the context of the Anthropocene. Our findings underscore the urgent need for Mauritius to implement a more comprehensive and robust natural capital accounting system.</p>