President Michel addresses the Indian Council of World Affairs in Delhi (photo: Office of the President)

Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, Chief Executive of Nature Seychelles said these words at the end of President’s James Michel’s State Visit to India last week. Shah was part of the President’s delegation in the whirlwind tour to New Delhi and Mumbai as the country’s Special Envoy for Environment and Climate Change. “Seychelles and India have a common front yard- the Indian Ocean. So it’s a no-brainer that we should seek more than just good neighborly ties with this scientifically advanced and economically dynamic nation,” he stated.

 Shah (L) leading the delegation from the Ministry in a tour of The Sanctuary at Roche Caiman - a park for people and wildlife

On 14th August 2015 the Seychelles’ Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture, Mr. Wallace Cosgrow paid a visit to Nature Seychelles’ headquarters, at the Centre of Environment and Education in Roche Caiman to discuss partnerships in fisheries and agriculture. In the field of agriculture the need had been expressed to revitalise of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nature Seychelles and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA).

Shah (L) introduces Lubchenco (Centre) to the Reef Rescuers coordinator Sarah (R) and the trainees

Professor Jane Lubchenco, the first ever US Oceans Envoy and Ambassador Sharon Villarosa together with 3 members of their staff, paid a visit to Nature Seychelles’ Reef Rescuers Project and Cousin Island Special Reserve last week. The delegation was accompanied by Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles CEO and travelled from Mahe to Praslin where they met with Nature Seychelles’ Reef Rescuers team then to Cousin Island Special Reserve for an island tour.

They look at the skies and the seas of our islands and capture what they see with beautiful paintings and drawings that awe and inspire. The Ars et Natura exhibition of artwork by Italian and Seychellois artists at the Kaz Zanana art gallery showcases the natural environment in Seychelles with the hope of highlighting the need for its protection.