Via the Seychelles Nation 21.11.11 - As Seychelles develops a knowledge-based society, recent exciting activities proved that science and technology are advancing rapidly in our small country. The seventh scientific symposium of the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) held recently in Mombasa, Kenya, witnessed scientific presentations – both oral and posters – by nine Seychellois and Seychelles-based scientists from several institutions.

On 15 November 2011 staff from Nature Seychelles visited renowned herbalist Mr. Ferdinand Vidot at Val d’En D’Or. Mr Vidot, is a treasure trove of information on medicinal plants of Seychelles. He has in the past helped Nature Seychelles propagate knowledge of medicinal plants at the Heritage Garden at Roche Caiman, where a small area of the garden is dedicated to growing a number of local medicinal plants.

While heavy rain fell on Sunday the 30th October, 16 members of HMS Somerset Ship’s Company, including the Royal Marines, spent time at the the Sanctuary at Roche Caiman volunteering. HMS Somerset is a British Royal Naval ship conducting maritime security operations in the region and was on call at Port Victoria.

Nature Seychelles and the Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA) have joined forces to work on a new project to help protect one of Seychelles iconic bird species – the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone corvina, locally known as Vev. To formalise this partnership, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed on 19 October 2011 at the Nature Seychelles headquarters at Roche Caiman by the CEOs of the two organisations Dr. Nirmal Shah and Mr. Denis Matatiken.