IDC committed to promoting conservation on the outer islands |07 June 2018

Conservation remains of an utmost importance in ensuring that the outer islands are sustainably developed, head of the Islands Development Company (IDC) Glenny Savy has said.

Mr Savy made the remarks on Tuesday at State House, shortly before presenting President Danny Faure with a copy of the second edition of the ‘Outer Islands of Seychelles - Zil Elwannyen Sesel’ reference book published by the IDC.

Also in attendance at Tuesday’s event, which coincided with World Environment Day, were Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change Wallace Cosgrow and the British high commissioner to Seychelles Caron Röhsler.

Mr Savy said the second edition of the book which was launched just over a month ago is a source of great pride for the IDC, especially as there is a lack of reference materials on the outer islands.

He added that it builds on the first edition, printed in 2008, retaining some of its original content and updated to include more recent developments such as piracy and cyclones.

Mr Savy also thanked Adrian and Judith Skerrett, Michael Payet, Jeanne Mortimer and their team who he said has worked hard to realise this project.

As a sign of the IDC’s commitment towards conservation on the outer outlands, Mr Savy said all proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the Island Conservation Society in support of its various conservation projects on the islands.

One of the principal features of the second edition is the addition of  not less than 25 maps, most of them created specifically for the book. 

The maps include an overview of the island groups together with  individual maps of the key islands and atolls.

There is an entirely new first chapter, ‘The Evolution of the Outer  Islands’ by Adrian Skerrett which tells the story of the volcanic origins  of the outer islands and the impact of changing sea levels. It is a  reminder of the dynamic nature of islands, which continues to this day. 

The second edition also tells the story of the IDC, updated to include  new images and new developments such as the renovation of the  airstrip at Astove, which now has tourism facilities contributing to the  economy of Seychelles. 

Tales from the islands also retain all the material of the first edition  together with new stories such as the rise of piracy that came to engulf  the outer islands, until Seychelles fought back to meet the threat.   

Many other new stories and photographs such as the history of  cyclones in the outer islands, a World War Two tale of survival, the  recent dramatic imagery of the BBC Natural History Unit at Farquhar  and a philosophical reflection on the wonder of islands by Bernard  Georges are also featured.