Run if you want to get a #NatureCollectible - there are only 18 left!

70% of Nature Seychelles' recently launched Nature Collectibles have been sold after 3 weeks of being offered, raising about $7000 for the conservation of a unique songbird once on the brink of extinction. 

The Seychelles magpie robin has made a brave splash in the NFT world

The Nature Collectibles (Non-Fungible Tokens - NFTs - for conservation) are a digital likeness of 59 endangered Seychelles magpie robins (Copsychus sechellarum) currently found on Cousin Island Special Reserve. The Million Dollar Bird, as it’s called by Nature Seychelles, was selected as a forerunner for the world's first digital nature collectibles launched in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of  Nature (IUCN) and the Swiss-based NGO, Porini Foundation. 

According to analysis from Porini Foundation, the smaller denomination NFTs costing 10, 50 and 100USD sold out soon after the launch and were trailed in the following weeks by 6 of 200USD and 4 of the 1000USD. The big-ticket collectible worth 10,000USD is still up for grabs as are most of the 500USD. The collectibles have generated interest in 64 different countries on their selling platform, with the United States being in the lead. 

Nature Seychelles is well known for innovations – its projects are usually game changers and ‘first to market'. The foray into NFTs is yet new ground for the NGO and indeed the entire conservation world, asserts Dr. Nirmal Shah, Nature Seychelles' Chief Executive. "But it's an exciting one nevertheless," he says, fresh from a podcast with a leading outlet for blockchain and cryptocurrency news. 

The collectibles have generated worldwide media interest Image The African Insider

The launch of the collectibles has generated worldwide media interest as a novel way to raise much-needed funds for conservation. The first to cover the launch was CNN, followed by the BBC and other international, regional and local media. It was also picked up by the agenda-setting World Economic Forum (WEF) who created an eye-catching video for it. 

The sale also generated interest on social media with some users publicizing their purchase in support of the collectible. "Really happy with my non-fungible magpie!" tweeted Tariq Al-Sadoon. "Today I own a #naturecollectible a unique digital representation connected to a nature conservation project. Written to a zero-carbon blockchain where it cannot be copied. Like a rare piece of art," said Richard Peers, another Twitter user. 

Commendations rolled in on LinkedIn. "An excellent example of using blockchain technology and AI in conservation," exclaimed Yolandi Schoeman, a bio-explorer and ecological engineer.

"Selling nature like great art that stays where it is. This is so smart that it hurts my head when you really think about it!" Conrad Savy, Biodiversity Lead at the International Finance Corporation stated. 

"Nature conservation leads the way in Fintech in Seychelles. Who could have imagined!" Seychelles Attorney at Law, Tamara Christen said. 

"A fine demonstration of the indomitable human spirit. Where we see challenges, a select few see opportunity," concluded BirdLife International Director of Partnerships, Dr. Julius Arinaitwe. 

Dr. Shah says the NGO will be looking at other funding disruptions including cryptocurrency, remote ecotourism, and others yet to be unveiled.

70% of Nature Seychelles' recently launched Nature Collectibles have been sold after 3 weeks of being offered, raising about $7000 for conservation of a unique songbird once on the brink of extinction.

The Nature Collectibles (Non-Fungible Tokens - NFTs - for conservation) are a digital likeness of 59 endangered Seychelles magpie robins (Copsychus sechellarum) currently found on Cousin Island Special Reserve. The Million Dollar Bird, as it’s called by Nature Seychelles, was selected as a forerunner for the world's first digital nature collectibles launched in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of  Nature (IUCN) and the Swiss-based NGO, Porini Foundation.

According to analysis from Porini Foundation, the smaller denomination NFTs costing 10, 50 and 100USD sold out soon after the launch, and were trailed in the following weeks by 6 of 200USD and 4 of the 1000USD. The big ticket collectible worth 10,000USD is still up for grabs as are most of the 500USD. The collectibles have generated interest in 64 different countries on their selling platform, with the United States being in the lead.

Nature Seychelles is well known for innovations – its projects are usually game changers and ‘first to market'. The foray into NFTs is yet new ground for the NGO and indeed the entire conservation world, asserts Dr. Nirmal Shah, Nature Seychelles' Chief Executive. "But it's an exciting one nevertheless," he says, fresh from a podcast with a leading outlet for blockchain and cryptocurrency news.

The launch of the collectibles have generated worldwide media interest as a novel way to raise much needed funds for conservation. The first to cover the launch was CNN, followed by the BBC and other international, regional and local media. It was also picked up by the agenda-setting World Economic Forum (WEF) who created an eye-catching video for it.

The sale also generated interest on social media with some users publicising their purchase in support of the collectible. "Really happy with my non-fungible magpie!" tweeted Tariq Al-Sadoon. "Today I own a #naturecollectible a unique digital representation connected to a nature conservation project. Written to a zero-carbon blockchain where it cannot be copied. Like a rare piece of art," said Richard Peers, another Twitter user.

Commendations rolled in on LinkedIn. "An excellent example of using blockchain technology and AI in conservation," exclaimed Yolandi Schoeman, a bio-explorer and ecological engineer.

"Selling nature like great art that stays where it is. This is so smart that it hurts my head when you really think about it!" Conrad Savy, Biodiversity Lead at the International Finance Corporation stated.

"Nature conservation leads the way in Fintech in Seychelles. Who could have imagined!" Seychelles Attorney at Law, Tamara Christen said.

"A fine demonstration of the indomitable human spirit. Where we see challenges, a select few see opportunity," concluded BirdLife International Director of Partnerships, Dr. Julius Arinaitwe.

Dr. Shah says the NGO will be looking at other funding disruptions including cryptocurrency, remote ecotourism, and others yet to be unveiled.