Island Conservation Society (ICS) was registered as an NGO in Seychelles in April 2001. Formation was inspired mainly by the urgent need to protect and rehabilitate the small islands of Seychelles, particularly the outer islands. Seychelles has a long history of strong environmental protection but until 2001 conservation programmes focussed almost entirely on the islands of the Seychelles Bank with little or no attention given to the sparesely inhabited outer islands, except for Aldabra, which is managed by Seychelles Islands Foundation.
Most of the outer islands of Seychelles are Government owned and managed by the parastal company Island Development Company (IDC). In 2007, ICS signed an agreement with IDC for conservation management on these islands. ICS now employs full time scientists and rangers at conservation centres on three IDC islands, Silhouette Island, Alphonse Atoll and Desroches Island.
ICS has also manages Aride Island Nature Reserve since October 2003. Aride was previously owned and managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) of UK. In October 2003, the reserve was leased to ICS and a series of conservation targets were set by RSWT. In 2006, upon satisfactory completion of all targets, the island was transferred to ICS.
In 2005-2009, ICS implemented a major project funded by Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (French Global Environment Facility). The project focused on the restoration of five islands. Achievements include the eradication of rats on North island, Seychelles, Conception Island and major islands of Cosmoledo Atoll, together with the transfer of several rare and threatened species to create new populations. ICS has also led the Seychelles White-eye recovery Programme.
Island Conservation Society was admitted as a member of IUCN in November 2007. The Head Office is situated at Pointe Larue, Mahe, Seychelles.
Famous quotes containing the words island, conservation and/or society:
“When the inhabitants of some sequestered island first descry the “big canoe” of the European rolling through the blue waters towards their shores, they rush down to the beach in crowds, and with open arms stand ready to embrace the strangers. Fatal embrace! They fold to their bosoms the vipers whose sting is destined to poison all their joys; and the instinctive feeling of love within their breasts is soon converted into the bitterest hate.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“However diligent she may be, however dedicated, no mother can escape the larger influences of culture, biology, fate . . . until we can actually live in a society where mothers and children genuinely matter, ours is an essentially powerless responsibility. Mothers carry out most of the work orders, but most of the rules governing our lives are shaped by outside influences.”
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)