Seychelles President meets Island Conservation Society on Assumption Island plans
Seychelles’ President Dr Patrick Herminie met representatives of the Island Conservation Society at State House on 6 January 2026 as the organisation marked its 25th anniversary. Talks covered ICS’s conservation programmes and the Environmental Impact Assessment for Assumption Island, alongside the creation of an Inter‑Sectoral Environmental Task Force chaired by Environment Minister Marie‑May Jérémie – with Dr Nirmal Shah as Deputy Chair – to coordinate urgent actions for Assumption and address related matters concerning Aldabra, including comprehensive biodiversity assessment and strengthened biosecurity.
The task force will invite participation from the Islands Development Company, Seychelles Islands Foundation, the Planning Authority, the Lands ministry, biosecurity authorities and other partners, including ICS. Funding and skills shortages were noted, with ICS employing 40 staff, many expatriates, and running programmes on eight islands focused on restoration, invasive species eradication and species reintroductions. President Herminie congratulated ICS and reaffirmed government collaboration to safeguard island ecosystems that underpin Seychelles’ sustainable development and nature‑based tourism.
Source: State House Seychelles
