We manage Cousin Island Special Reserve
Cousin Island Special Reserve is a protected area that includes a 400m exclusion zone from the shore.
Previously a coconut plantation, Cousin Island was purchased by the International Council for Bird Protection (now BirdLife) in in 1968 with the goal of saving the endemic Seychelles Warbler. A habitat restoration program was implemented, transforming the island from an ecologically impoverished plantation into a thriving ecosystems that supports other species. It is one of the few islands free of introduced predators due to a strict invasives control program.
Since 1998, Cousin has been successfully managed and protected by Nature Seychelles. It is a huge conservation success today and is home to a varied flora and fauna that includes seven species of nesting seabirds, in numbers exceeding 300,000 individuals.
Five of Seychelles’ eleven endemic land birds – Seychelles magpie robin, sunbird, fody, blue pigeon, and the warbler – are found on Cousin.
The island is a critical breeding site for Hawksbill turtles, with a monitoring program in place since 1972 showing an eight-fold increase in nesting turtles.
Research has shown that the Reserve’s reefs are well protected resulting in a diverse and abundant marine fauna, especially of fish targeted by fishers. The management maintains a unique relationship with the local community that forestalls poaching and has led to an increased understanding of the role of MPAs in local fisheries.
Cousin is designated an Key Biodiveristy Area (KBA) by BirdLife International and is a Demonstration Site for the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN).
Initiated in 1972, eco-tourism has grown to become an exciting program run under internationally accepted principles. It has won numerous awards and accolades including the Conde Nast Ecotourism Award, and the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow.
A management effectiveness study by UNEP and IUCN found the Reserve to be well managed and effective.
Visit the Cousin Island Special Reserve website.
