Researches provide useful information on local species |09 October 2015

A series of eight researches conducted mostly by local researchers over the last three years have provided useful information on a variety of local species. These are the sooglosid frog, the caecilians of which all six existing species are endemic to Seychelles, the sheath-tailed bats, the black parrot and also corals found around granitic islands.

Under the guidance of project officer Dr Rachel Bristol, they were successively carried out by the following researchers: James Mougal of the Seychelles National Marine Park Authority (SNPA); Dr David Gower of the Natural Museum of London and Charles Morel and Berthilde Belle from the Natural History Museum of Seychelles; Diana Renaud; Terance Payet from Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF); Sylvanne Antat also of SNPA.

Conducted as part of a project entitled ‘A cutting-EDGE approach to saving Seychelles evolutionarily distinct biodiversity’, the initiative’s main aim was to provide training and build researchers’ capacity in practical conservation. Among the work done, it found out what the species are and their different characteristics, where they are found and the conservation threats they face in terms of disease susceptibility, climate change, habitat modification and invasive species.

The research and monitoring project which also included a series of workshops, has been financed by the UK government through the Darwin Initiative. It came as a result of a recommendation from a workshop held in November 2010, when the ministry responsible for environment had come together with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to discuss priority actions for Seychelles EDGE species. Among others, partners included the SNPA, SIF, Island Conservation Society (ICS), University of Seychelles and University of Kent.

Speaking at a presentation of the project’s findings at the National Library on last week, Denis Matatiken, special advisor to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, remarked that the species studied are sometimes extremely rare and even in danger of extinction. He has added that the project has provided the researchers with specialist training, permitting them to develop their conservation capacity.

Dr Bristol has on her side commented that the research undertaken has provided another method of prioritising species for conservation, according to their endangered level.