Geographical and ecological setting
The Seychelles are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeast Africa. The Islands are located approximately 4-11° south of the equator and 45-56° east of the Prime Meridian, as seen in Figure 2. There are over 115 islands that encompass the Seychelles, and around 45 of them are known as the Granitic Seychelles. These Granitic islands consist of some of the oldest, hardest and unique granite in the world (Stoddart, 1984). This region has a hot and humid tropical climate with annual rainfall that can exceed 1400mm per year (Walsh, 1984; Malan, et al., 2009). The mean monthly temperature stays consistently above 20° C.
Many of islands contain nature reserves, national parks, world heritage sites and other extraordinary features. There are several types of forests on these islands such as mountain moss forest, sub-montane or intermediate forest, tropical moist lowland forest, Coco de Mer palm forest (Rhind, 2010). There are several other ecosystems present such as: glacis, shrub-lands, riverine, mangroves and freshwater swamps (Rhind, 2010). Many of the ecosystems found on the islands have shown to be very productive and contain a high variety of diversity (Stodart, 1984).
Some of the islands in the Seychelles have been radically changed by human influences and by exotic species that have been introduced by humans and which had their seeds dispersed by wildlife, and which have been so successful that the dominant species regimes have shifted (Thorsen, et al., 1999; Kueffer, et al., 2013. Many hardwood trees have been removed from mountain slopes and valleys in the past as resources, and to make space for human development and land required for agriculture (Mair & Beckley, 2012; Thorsen, Shorten, & Lucking, 1999). In the areas where these hardwood trees may have been, there are now coconuts, vanilla, cinnamon, and various ornamentals dominating the landscape (Mair, et al., 2012). This can mean many landscapes contain novel ecosystems (i.e., ecosystems comprising mixtures of historically unfamiliar species combinations that are very difficult or practically impossible to restore).
A few islands have successfully managed to conserve or re-introduce over 95% of the endemic species, and these programs have been successful on islands which avoided intense human disturbance and that still have their Takamaka (Calophyllum inophyllum) and Badamier (Terminalia catappa) hardwood trees present (Mair, et al., 2012). On the islands where restoration has been ongoing, the Pisonia (Pisonia grandis) and Great Morinda (Morinda citrifolia) trees have been repopulating. On higher slopes there are pockets of endemic species that remain and there are fewer introduced plants (Mair, et al., 2012). Many species on the islands are already vulnerable, endangered or threatened, such as the Aldabra Tortoise (vulnerable) and Magpie-robin (endangered) which are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 1996).
Many of islands contain nature reserves, national parks, world heritage sites and other extraordinary features. There are several types of forests on these islands such as mountain moss forest, sub-montane or intermediate forest, tropical moist lowland forest, Coco de Mer palm forest (Rhind, 2010). There are several other ecosystems present such as: glacis, shrub-lands, riverine, mangroves and freshwater swamps (Rhind, 2010). Many of the ecosystems found on the islands have shown to be very productive and contain a high variety of diversity (Stodart, 1984).
Some of the islands in the Seychelles have been radically changed by human influences and by exotic species that have been introduced by humans and which had their seeds dispersed by wildlife, and which have been so successful that the dominant species regimes have shifted (Thorsen, et al., 1999; Kueffer, et al., 2013. Many hardwood trees have been removed from mountain slopes and valleys in the past as resources, and to make space for human development and land required for agriculture (Mair & Beckley, 2012; Thorsen, Shorten, & Lucking, 1999). In the areas where these hardwood trees may have been, there are now coconuts, vanilla, cinnamon, and various ornamentals dominating the landscape (Mair, et al., 2012). This can mean many landscapes contain novel ecosystems (i.e., ecosystems comprising mixtures of historically unfamiliar species combinations that are very difficult or practically impossible to restore).
A few islands have successfully managed to conserve or re-introduce over 95% of the endemic species, and these programs have been successful on islands which avoided intense human disturbance and that still have their Takamaka (Calophyllum inophyllum) and Badamier (Terminalia catappa) hardwood trees present (Mair, et al., 2012). On the islands where restoration has been ongoing, the Pisonia (Pisonia grandis) and Great Morinda (Morinda citrifolia) trees have been repopulating. On higher slopes there are pockets of endemic species that remain and there are fewer introduced plants (Mair, et al., 2012). Many species on the islands are already vulnerable, endangered or threatened, such as the Aldabra Tortoise (vulnerable) and Magpie-robin (endangered) which are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 1996).