The Seychelles Islands Foundation yesterday hosted a validation workshop to formulate the first coco de mer species action plan aimed at conserving the endemic species.
The coco de mer is categorised as ‘Endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, (IUCN Red List).
Speaking at the event at the National House building, Victoria, the head of Science and Conservation at the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), Dr Annabelle Constance, said despite many conservation programmes over the years, this was the first time the foundation was actually formulating an action plan.
According to Dr Contance, it was UK-based plant conservation charity, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), that initially reached out to SIF to develop the plan. Seychelles is requested to re-evaluate the red list assessment of the species.
“To do this, we are required to have an action plan. So this is why we have to come up with a draft and are now meeting with stakeholders to discuss on ways to move forward,” said Dr Contance, who added that the general public also plays a crucial role to spread words about coco de mer conservation.
Through a coco de mer census conducted from January 2023 to February 2024 in three managed sites which included Vallee de Mai, Fond Peper and Fond Ferdinand, the statistic of the number of trees in these sites were revealed.
In total 800 females, 966 males and 629 immature trees were marked in Vallee de Mai. 448 females, 487 males and 174 immature trees were marked in Fond Peper. 819 females, 945 males and 523 immature trees were marked in Fond Ferdinand. The local population of coco de mer was said to be steadily increasing across all three managed sites.
Source: Seychelles Nation, Friday March 21, 2025