Nature Seychelles was among the non-governmental and charitable organisations taking part in the Barclays Bank Miles Ahead community project in June. The event brought the groups together at Camion Hall in Victoria. At the event, Government ministers, the bank’s customers and the public, invited to rally support for the various causes.

Climate change is one of the biggest dangers to Seychelles. From too much rain to extreme drought, from increased storms to sea level rise, from coral bleaching to spread of tropical diseases, the threats are serious. Global warming is at the root of climate change. It is mainly caused by industrial emissions – the by-products of fossil fuel burning. To tackle it we need to address the biggest polluters of the planet. But as individuals or organisations in small countries, how can we do this? One way is to link with larger groups working on the same issue.

We should all by now be familiar with the threats that introduced species can pose. They have done enormous damage to ecosystems all over the world. In Seychelles, we have seen it first hand. We have also been world leaders in the restoration of small island ecosystems, involving alien species control and habitat revival.

Thousands of volunteers and professionals, spread over the five continents are marking World Oceans Day on 8 June, highlighting the beauty and the fragility of marine ecosystems and the need to act right now to ensure not only their survival, but also our own.