The signing of a 70 year lease of the northwest Mahe site gave the go
ahead to a US$100 million hotel development project at Port Launay.
Five Star Resort at Anse Louis
The construction of a 21 million euro five star hotel is underway at
Anse Louis. The project, which consists of the construction of 30
villas, is a joint venture between Southern Sun Hotels and a local
entrepreneur Mr. Joe Albert.
Bringing back the Seychelles Fody
Under the Nature Seychelles program VIPS (Volunteer International
Program for Seychelles) a volunteer from Germany has been in
Seychelles to help with population censuses of a Seychelles endemic
bird, as well as with seabirds. Harald Legge, from near Dortmund, has
recently completed two weeks on Denis island engaged in the study of
the Seychelles Fody, or Toktok.
Wise practice guidelines for rare species published
A vital milestone has been reached in the ongoing conservation campaign
to save rare endemic species. Nature Seychelles, supported by the
Seychelles Magpie Robin Recovery Team (SMART), and with funding from
the Environment Trust Fund and the Royal Society for the Protection of
Birds (RSPB), has published the Best Practice Handbook for Management
of a Critically Endangered Species - the Seychelles Magpie Robin (or Pi
Santez). The book is the culmination of 16 years of intensive practical
conservation effort, compiled in one volume as a record of all that has
been learned since the Recovery Plan for the species kicked in to
action in 1990.
White flies and parasitoids
Unless you are a fan of horror films like Aliens, you probably have little experience or knowledge of parasitoids. Researcher Steve Hazell introduces these little known but fascinating creatures, and makes a suggestion about how white fly might be controlled.