Seychelles biodiversity

I was actively involved in plant conservation in Seychelles through biodiversity surveys, ecological research and conservation on Silhouette island.

Research

We were interested in contributing to the understanding of the origins, relationships and conservation status of Seychelles plants and encouraged research on population genetics and phylogeography. In order to facilitate such research I have samples of Acacia cf. pennata, Achyrospermum seychellarum, Asystasia cf. gangetica, Hypoxidia rhizophylla, Malaxis seychellensis, Morinda citriflolia, Piper seychellarum, Platylepis goodyeroides, Platylepis sechellensis, Pseuderanthemum subviscosum, Rapanea seychellarum, Seychellaria thomasseti and Trilepisium gynandrum.These can be made available for genetic analysis.

Collaboration

The NPTS carried out studies of the genetics of Seychelles plants in collaboration with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. This included the endemic plants Rothmannia annae and the Seychelles Gastonia species (G. crassa, G. lionneti and G. seychellarum).

We collaborated with Aride Island Special Reserve and the Seychelles Botanic Gardens in re-establishing the endangered Wright's gardenia Rothmannia annae on Silhouette island. 100 years ago this species was found on several islands but is now restricted to Aride island where 900 trees survive. The first saplings of this species were planted on Silhouette in January and June 2001. Flowering first occurred in late 2006.

We worked on the conservation of the Critically Endangered Impatiens gordonii with the Seychelles Botanic Gardens and the Eden Project. This species has only been recorded on Mahe and Silhouette islands. For many years it was thought to be extinct but two plants were rediscovered on Mahe. In 1995 a population of some 200 plants was found on Silhouette. We established a new population on Silhouette and carried out research aimed at improving the prospects of this species. The results of this work were published in 2011 in Conservation Evidence.

On Silhouette new populations of rare endemic species were established until this work came to an end with the eviction of conservationists from the island.

NPTS work on Angiosperm species of importance on Silhouette