A new era has dawned in the management of Aride Island after a local conservation body formally took over the running of this important nature reserve from a foreign-based organisation Thursday October 16.

The Royal Society for Nature Conservation (RSNC) of UK, which bought Aride Island in 1973 and has managed it from the UK, has leased the nature reserve and transferred responsibility for its management over to the Island Conservation Society (ICS) of Seychelles.

This is the first time that the lease of a Seychelles nature reserve will have been passed from an overseas body to a local one since 1979, when the Seychelles Islands Foundation was formed and acquired responsibility for Aldabra from The Royal Society UK.

This new era in the management of Aride Island Nature Reserve was announced yesterday in a short ceremony on the island attended by Minister for Environment Ronny Jumeau, principal secretary for Environment Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, British High Commissioner Mr Fraser Wilson, Dr James Cadbury, staff of Aride and Trustees of the Island Conservation Society.

Aride Island was purchased by RSNC in 1973, with funds provided by Christopher Cadbury. For thirty years, management has been exercised from UK and during this time, a considerable amount has been achieved to enhance the status of the reserve.

This includes an impressive continuous scientific research programme, the rehabilitation of the natural vegetation and the reintroduction of several endemic species.

However, RSNC has long recognised the difficulties of managing an island in Seychelles from overseas. In addition, RSNC is an organisation focussed on UK conservation and it was felt it was no longer in the best interests of Aride to continue with management from UK.

We expect to bring our readers a more detailed report on yesterday's official handing over of Aride to ICS in tomorrow's Seychelles Weekend Nation.

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