The Seychelles and Island Conservation

Islands across the globe are amongst the most threatened ecosystems. Their huge concentrations of biodiversity are highly vulnerable to disturbance and extinction. Alien invasive species in particular, have been the largest threat to this unique biodiversity.

In the Seychelles, many of the islands have suffered tremendous biodiversity loss through the establishment of coconut plantations in the early half of the 1900’s. Fortunately today, the Seychelles is one of the world’s leaders in island restoration and they have been intensively removing the damaging invasive species. As a result of this restoration, the populations of many threatened bird species and turtles have recovered. The islands in the Seychelles are now carefully managed and researched for conservation, ecotourism and education.

White-Tailed Tropicbird_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

1 of 12: White-Tailed Tropicbird incubating its single egg on its nest at the base of a fallen tree, Cousin Island, Seychelles

Magpie Robin_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

2 of 12: A Magpie-Robin has been colour-ringed to aid with easy monitoring of this threatened bird, Cousin Island, Seychelles

Noddy Tern Silhouette_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

3 of 12: Silhouetted Noddy Tern, Cousin Island, Seychelles

Fairy Tern_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

4 of 12: A Fairy Tern hovers above the shallow waters where it feeds, Cousin Island, Seychelles 5. Booby Island in the Seychelles

Booby Island_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

5 of 12: The grantitic Booby Island, Seychelles

Storm Clouds over D'Arros Island_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

6 of 12: Stormy skies over the beach at D'Arros Island, D'Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll, Amirantes, Seychelles

Black-tip Reef Shark_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

7 of 12: Black-Tipped Reef Shark encircled by small reef fish in the shallows of D'Arros Island, D'Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll, Amirantes, Seychelles

Ghost Crab_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

8 of 12: Ghost Crab (ocypode ceratophthalma) feeding on the beach amongst the foam of breaking waves, D'Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll, Amirantes, Seychelles

Hermit Crab_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

9 of 12: White Hermit Crab ridding on the back of a Red Hermit Crab, D'Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll, Amirantes, Seychelles

Aldabra Giant Tortoise_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

10 of 12: Aldabra Giant Tortoise feeding on the edge of the beach, Cousin Island, Seychelles

Coconut Plantations_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

11 of 12: Coconut plantation, D'Arros Island  Amirantes, Seychelles

St Joseph's Atoll_©PeterChadwick_AfricanConservationPhotographer

12 of 12: Aerial view of St Joseph Atoll and lagoon, D'Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll, Amirantes, Seychelles

Visit African Conservation Photography for a full gallery of Seychelles images