Island Biodiversity and Conservation (IBC) Centre
Island Biodiversity and Conservation
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Overview
The Island Biodiversity and Conservation centre is an initiative from members of the scientific community of Seychelles, grouped under the NGO Island Biodiversity Conservation (IBC), and the University of Seychelles which provides it with logistical and administrative support.
IBC is a non-for-profit, non-governmental organisation associated to the University of Seychelles. Formed in December 2014, it aims at bringing together environmental scientists and practitioners to contribute to the development of research and biodiversity conservation in Seychelles and the western Indian Ocean region. It is a member of IUCN since 2025.
Mission
“To promote scientific studies, ecological research and conservation programmes on island biodiversity, the publication and dissemination of results, and the development of university curricula and local capacity in Seychelles and beyond”.
Aims of the IBC Centre
Seychelles already has a lot of local expertise in biodiversity and conservation science, although it is scattered across many individuals and organisations or islands, working with little coordination. In parallel, the University of Seychelles is a challenging national project essential for Seychelles development that, we believe, requires the contribution of all and everyone. UniSey offers a Bachelor of Sciences course in Environmental sciences since 2012, and lately a Masters of Sciences in Marine Ecology (although not every year).
In 2015, the Blue Economy Research Institute (BERI) was formed by UniSey. The IBC is closely linked to the BERI as both share the objective of supporting the development of the University of Seychelles in terms of applied research, publications of results, and academic curricula; with the IBC center being more focused on biodiversity studies and conservation.
The aim of the IBC is to encourage different experts, environmental scientists and practitioners working in Seychelles to contribute to the development of environmental sciences at UniSey and beyond. Having one foot in the university and one foot outside, the IBC center and its members are expected to foster collaboration between individuals, local organisations, private islands and UniSey, and to boost international cooperation with foreign universities and scientific institutions
IBC is part of the Research Unit of UniSey. Its activity results in scientific and technical publications associating the UniSey being produced every year in the field of biodiversity and ecology. It also allows UniSey to applied conservation programmes. IBC members are encouraged to contribute to the lecturing and student supervision capacity of the University of Seychelles, and to the development of new curricula in environmental sciences.
Objectives and Areas of Activity
- To build a group of environmental scientists and conservation practitioners co-opted by – or affiliated to – the University of Seychelles, willing to contribute to its development in the fields of island biodiversity and conservation.
- To promote and where appropriate undertake biodiversity inventories, monitoring schemes or other ecological studies in collaboration with other organisations.
- To produce or contribute to scientific or technical publications in the field of biodiversity conservation & environmental sciences, and to represent the University of Seychelles in international scientific events.
- To publish results from biological surveys or ecological programmes, and to valorise advances made in Seychelles in the fields of island biodiversity and conservation.
- To be part of the environmental component of a Research Unit for the University of Seychelles.
- To support the implementation of international research programmes on ecological processes and monitoring protocols related to biodiversity conservation.
- To provide scientific and technical guidance on environmental management, conservation and restoration programs for key biodiversity species, sites and habitats, and where necessary play an active role in their implementation.
- To develop the lecturing and student supervision capacity of the University of Seychelles for its curricula in environmental sciences; and to help UniSey to develop – or participate to – new national or international curricula in this field.
- To network and develop exchanges with foreign scientific institutions interested in biodiversity conservation and capacity building, particularly in the Indian Ocean, and where appropriate to be affiliated to such international institutions.
- To be a repository of ecological samples, data, research results and publications for the UniSey and any other national or international institutions that may have such interest.
- To raise/access funds and develop strategic partnerships in order to reach the main goal and objectives of the Association.
IBC 2026 Highlights
- The center is a joint venture between UniSey and IBC, an NGO associated to the University of Seychelles formed on 15/12/2014. Launched by Minister for Environment on 26.01.16. Raised c.US$1.0M plus in-kind.
- Membership includes resident scientists and conservationists working as consultants or/and for UniSey which first affiliation is IBC-UniSey (1), and members based abroad or first affiliated to other institutions (2)
- (1) G. Rocamora, E. Henriette, G. Gendron, W. Fousse, J. Harlay, B. Senterre, J. Bijoux, N. Bodin, L. Barret, P. Matyot.
- (2) K. Hoareau, L. Calabrese, J. Nogués, J. Labisco, S. Maddock, A. Gower, R. Baxter, M. Caputo, R. Pool, A. Costa, L. Gigord
- Managing Committee formed by Dr Gérard Rocamora (Science Director & Chair), Dr. Jérôme Harlay (Vice- Chair; UniSey BERI Director), Wilfrid Fousse (Admin. Manager, MSc), Gilberte Gendron (Secretary, MSc)
Board composed of Managing Committee plus Elvina Henriette (PhD).
- 3-5 employees:
- Project Support & Outreach Officer (A. Furneau, part-time),
- 2 project staff (L. Rahandriarisoa, MSc; D. Sinon),
- 2 early carreer professional interns (post-MSc) & ad-hoc consultants.
- Project Coord. vacant.
- IBC owns 1 vehicle; has 2 field station houses (Ste Anne/Moyenne);
- 1 Solar boat.
- Contributed to 73 scientific publications since 2015 (65 peer-reviewed articles in journals; 1 in conference proceedings, 2 books, 2 books chapters, 3 published databases) (see separate list).
- Described 6 plant species new to Science & rediscovered 1 species thought to be extinct. Presented research & conservation results at over a dozen international conferences and symposiums (Invasive Species, Island Biology, Ornithology, Seabirds, Conservation Biology, Nature conservation & Tourism,…).
- Regular lectures at UniSey BSc Env. Sciences, in foreign universities and nature conservation organisations.
- In charge of Seychelles part of CEPF Ecosystem Profile (2022) with Biotope & Conservation International
- Implemented two CEPF funded projects Advancing Environmental Management Practices & Threatened Species Recovery through Partnerships with Private Sector (2017-2020), followed by Rescuing the last Seychelles white-eyes and development ecoutourism partnerships (2021-22).
- CEPF project “Building resilience on ecosystems in islands of the Ste Anne MNP” in progress. (see summary).
- Contribution to research and conservation projects on c. 25 islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, Ste Anne, Conception, Anonyme, Moyenne, Ronde, Longue, Aride, Grande Soeur, Petite Soeur, Frégate, Ile du Nord, Félicité, Marianne, Curieuse, D’Arros, Farquhar, Alphonse/St François, Cosmoledo); on landbirds, seabirds, turtles, tortoises, marine mammals, lizards, geckos, amphibians, terrestrial invertebrates, pollinators, paleovegetation, corals, fishes etc. with foreign universities & conservation organisations.
- Established new transferred population of Seychelles White-eye (VU) on Gde Soeur Island, reintroduced Aldabra Giant Tortoises (VU) on Aride Island with ICS and translocated 30 to Grande Soeur; eradicated rats from Anonyme (2022), Rémire Island (2024), Moyenne (2025) with island managers, confirmed Crested-tree lizard eradication on Ste Anne, planted 1200 native saplings with communities (2017-2020).
- Past projects include CYROI/MoH/UniSey-IBC SeyWol Tiger mosquito, monitoring of endangered species (MACCE), habitat mapping for UniSey (Ridge-to-Reef GEF6), movement tracking and genetics of marine turtles on Ste Anne Island and Mahé, https://my.wildlifecomputers.com/data/map/?id=61dc5d13e9b35169075e2abb; research on Seychelles amphibians and reptiles, seabird research (colony censuses & tracking) with Island Conservation Society (Seychelles), Univ. La Réunion, ZSL, Oxford Univ. etc. on Aride Island, St François and Farquhar atolls, studies on rats and other invasive species, coral, fish and cetacean inventories etc..
- IBC book Invasive Alien Species in Seychelles published by Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris) in 2015, praised by international scientific community as ‘a must-have for anyone, anywhere, seeking to manage invasive species (Biological Invasions; 2016). See for example CEPF post https://www.cepf.net/stories/combatting-invasive-alien-species
