Biodiveristy Conservation and MPAs

Nature Seychelles manages Cousin Island Special Reserve, one of the world's first land and sea nature reserves

Previously a coconut plantation, Cousin Island was purchased by the International Council for Bird Protection (now BirdLife) in 1968, for the immediate purpose of saving the endemic Seychelles Warbler Acrocephalus sechellensis. 26 warblers had been found in the mangroves of the island clinging perilously to life, with much of its original habitat converted to coconut plantations. A campaign was started to rescue these birds and they became the flagship species for the island. Saving the warbler saved other species.

The bird that saved an island

To save the warbler, a habitat restoration programme was implemented: Cousin’s coconuts were cut back and native vegetation encouraged to regenerate, which allowed the warbler to flourish. Its numbers increased. Soon over 300 birds could be heard singing on Cousin. From here the warbler was re-introduced to other islands in the Seychelles to boost its population and the bird now occurs on five other islands in the Seychelles. The Warbler has since been downgraded to critically endangered to near threatened on IUCN’s Red list of endangered species. Other seabirds, landbirds, wildlife and marine life are also thriving on the island as well as in the waters around the island, which is protected as a “Special Reserve” under Seychelles law.

Sanctuary at Roche Caiman -From a wasteland to a wetland

 Nature Seychelles also manages The Sanctuary at Roche Caiman, an urban wetland in the heart of Greater Victoria. Situated on reclaimed land, it underwent a remarkable transformation in the early 2000s through an ambitious rehabilitation project led by Nature Seychelles. The aim was to turn it into a wetland reserve that Seychellois could be proud of, an attraction for nature enthusiasts, and an educational resource for local schools.

Several activities have been accomplished with local and international donors’ support, including the removal of non-native trees and planting of native ones, tackling the overgrowth of typha reeds that were choking the wetland, re-opening and deepening water areas, creating a scrape for wading birds and a pond dipping area for children, and the diversification of mangrove stands through planting.