Restoration of a tropical island: Cousine Island, Seychelles

Published source details Samways M.J., Hitchins P.M., Bourquin O. & Henwood J. (2010) Restoration of a tropical island: Cousine Island, Seychelles. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19, 425-434.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Restore island ecosystems Action Link

Restore island ecosystems

A study in 1992–2006 on a tropical island in Seychelles (Samways et al. 2010) found that a programme of island restoration, including a large range of measures such as eradicating many invasive, non-native species and measures to control poaching, resulted in an increase in the number of hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata and green turtle Chelonia mydas nests. Between 22 and 25 years after the start of an island restoration programme there were 19–43 sea turtle nests/year and 25–35 years after the programme’s anti-poaching measures were introduced, there were 66–108 sea turtle nests/year. The authors reported that the number of sea turtle nests had increased in each year of the study. In 1970s–2000s, Cousine Island (27 ha) underwent restoration, including invasive plant and animal removal, introduction of poaching controls and anti-poaching initiatives (details not provided), reintroducing native plants and bird species, increased biosecurity measures for incoming goods and the confinement of agricultural plants to a designated area (see original paper for details on all measures undertaken). Sea turtle nests were monitored from the 1990s onwards (no details were provided).

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)